Prayer, The Golden Rule & Forgiveness

Today's Gospel begins with instruction on the efficacy of persevering in prayer and closes with the Golden Rule. We have probably all heard this reading a number of times. I believe that we have a tendency to become desensitized to the message of these passages when he hear them, but fail to reflect on them.

Ask and You Shall Receive
I know when I was younger I used to think this verse meant that I would get what ever I asked of God. In retrospect, I now I understand I was treating the LORD like some personal genie to grant my every wish. If that were indeed the case, why is it that I don't always get what I ask for?

According to the commentators of the Navarre Bible, "St. Augustine says that our prayer is not heard because we ask 'aut mali, aut male, aut mala.' "Mali' (= evil people): because we are evil, because our personal dispositions are not good; 'male' (= badly): because we pray badly, without faith, not persevering, not humbly; 'mala' (= bad things): because we ask for bad things, that is, things which are not good for us, things which can harm us" (cf. "De Civitate Dei, XX", 22 and 27; "De Serm. Dom. In Monte", II, 27, 73) (As sited by Navarre Bible commentary).

Give Him a Serpent?
We find a clarification to St. Augustine's commentary in the next verse. Jesus uses two great analogies to demonstrate that God, who is perfectly good, will not give us a bad. I love reading this passage because it always reminds me of my Mom. She loved quoting this scripture when I asked her for something. Recently, I had the opportunity to quote it back to her when she was surprised by something Stacey and I had recently given her.

I like St. Josemaria's in response to this passage: "Pray. In what human venture could you have greater guarantee of success?" (The Way, 96).

The Golden Rule
The Catechism of the Catholic Church addresses the Golden Rule specifically:

The Law of the Gospel requires us to make the decisive choice between "the two ways" and to put into practice the words of the Lord. It is summed up in the Golden Rule, "Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; this is the law and the prophets." 

The entire Law of the Gospel is contained in the "new commandment" of Jesus, to love one another as he has loved us. (CCC, 1970)

This rule can be viewed in its proper context when joined with Christ's statement to "love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another" (John 13:34). When we really think about what Jesus is saying, it can (and should) cut to our hearts. Christ demonstrated his love for us by dying on the cross for us. If we are to love like him we should be willing to die for others. This does not mean literally laying our lives (although sometimes it might), but rather humbling ourselves to serve or put up with others. St. Josemaria had a witty way of describing this:

Long faces, coarse manners, a ridiculous appearance, a repelling air. Is that how you hope to inspire others to follow Christ? 

Penance means being very charitable at all times towards those around you, starting with the members of your own family. It is to be full of tenderness and kindness towards the suffering, the sick and the infirm. It is to give patient answers to people who are boring and annoying. It means interrupting our work or changing our plans, when circumstances make this necessary, above all when the just and rightful needs of others are involved. 

Penance consists in putting up good-humouredly with the thousand and one little pinpricks of each day; in not abandoning your job, although you have momentarily lost the enthusiasm with which you started it; in eating gladly whatever is served, without being fussy. (Friends of God, 138)

Forgiveness

I can't help but think that this Gospel reading is also related to yesterday's focus on forgiveness. We are called to forgive those who hurt us. Who are we to hold on to that grudge when Christ was willing to forgive all our sins (debts)?

During this time of Lent we need to refocus our efforts in forgiving others and enduring the daily pinpricks of our lives. We have to live the love of Christ. When we begin to do this, our lives become reflections of Christ's love and evangelization ensues.