The Fruits of Prayer

Today’s Gospel reading, in its seeming simplicity, can baffle our modern sensibility. Jesus insists upon the efficacy of prayer, telling us that “everyone who asks receives.” Surely, we say, he doesn’t mean everyone. We all know of prayers in our hearts that seem to have gone unanswered; and we all know of friends or family members who have desired truly good things, only to meet with disappointment. What then are we to take from this sweeping statement from Jesus that everyone who asks receives?

Asking for Bread or Stone

Three points come to view as we reflect upon this passage. Firstly, God desires to give us good things, even more ardently than the parent who desires to give “good gifts” to his children. What parent, Jesus notes, would give his child a stone when the child asks for bread? We must then ask ourselves if we are truly asking for bread, or if we are asking for something which may seem good but in reality gives no nourishment. This requires serious discernment on our part.

During my high school years, I began a practice of daily journaling which I continue to this day. In the beginning my entries were rather shallow and trivial; in those days I was a passionate tennis fan, and I would write simply about whether my favorite players had won or lost. Yet over time, and after I had watched enough defeats to know that I ought not place my happiness in sport, my entries deepened and matured. Journaling began to open up my mind to the essential questions of life, and I no longer spent time asking for the things which didn’t really matter, but started to seek after truth, goodness, and beauty.

This example illustrates the fact that prayer itself, over time, changes us into the person we are meant to be. As we align ourselves more closely with God’s will, we learn to ask for “good gifts,” rather than fleeting pleasures. And ultimately, the best gift we could desire is simply to rest in God’s presence—which is the essence of prayer.

Ask, Seek, Knock

What, then, of the person who asks for something truly good, but remains unanswered? Here we may consider the second point: Prayer requires persistence. Consider the rising crescendo of the imagery in the Gospel passage: ask, and it shall be given; seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened. Ask, seek, knock: the true petitioner must not simply ask, but must go forth confidently, seeking what is good and true, and finally, being willing to knock on the door. Through this process, prayer expands the heart so that it can receive what God so desires to give us.

Here, one recalls the example of Saint Monica, who prayed fervently for 17 years for the conversion of her son, Augustine. Though she might easily have lost hope over those years, she persisted in prayer, trusting that God would eventually open the heart of her son. The fruit, as we all know, proved even more abundant than her original desire. Not only did Augustine convert to the faith, but he became one of the great doctors of the Church.

Hidden Fruits

Lastly, if even our earnest prayers remain unanswered, we may remind ourselves that we cannot expect to see the full design of God’s plan during our lifetime. God is weaving a larger tapestry than we can perceive. On this side of heaven, we may not discern the fruit of our prayers; but in end time, the pattern of God’s providence will become clear, and we will understand the greater grace that has come forth. Thus, let us continue to ask, seek, and knock with earnest heart, trusting in the goodness of our God: for all who ask will receive the gift God desires to give.

[Readings: Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Mt 7:7-12]