Have you ever poured out your heart in prayer and yet feel that God is silent? Have you ever asked God for something earnestly, only to feel as though your words vanished into the air? As Christians we sometimes struggle with a crucial question: Why is God not answering my prayers? Some conclude, perhaps “it is because I am a sinner”. Others wonder if they lack faith, etc. In today’s Gospel, Jesus offers us a reassuring message: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
But how do we reconcile this promise of Jesus with the reality of personal experiences telling us that not every prayer is answered in the way we expect? To truly grasp the depth of Jesus’ teaching, we need to look at how He teaches us to pray, and how the prayer of the Our Father provides a model for aligning our desires with God’s will.
“Ask, Seek, Knock”
Each of these verbs expresses different levels of engagement in prayer. Asking implies humility and dependence, recognizing all good things come from the Father. Seeking suggests persistence, and a heart desiring deeper communion with God. Knocking signifies insistence, not giving up when doors seem closed.
Each of these words is in the present imperative tense in Greek, meaning that Jesus is not speaking of a one-time request but an ongoing attitude of prayer: “Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking.” This challenges our tendency to expect instant answers. Prayer is not about manipulating God into giving us what we want, but about aligning our hearts with His will.
The Father’s Heart: More Willing to Give Than We Are to Receive
Jesus then makes a comparison: “Which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?” He speaks of human fathers, flawed yet capable of providing for their children. If even sinful parents know how to care for their children, how much more will our Heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him?
Here, Jesus invites us to trust in God’s goodness. He is not a distant or indifferent God. He is a Father who loves us infinitely more than we can imagine. His delays are not denials, and when He withholds somethings, it is only because He has something better in store for us.
When God Seems Silent, What Should We Do?
To understand how God answers prayers, we have to look at the model Jesus gave us: the Our Father. “Hallowed be Thy name”. Our first desire should be for God’s glory, not just our needs. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done”. True prayer aligns our will with God’s, rather than forcing His will into ours. This is the secret of prayers that move the heart of God. “Give us this day our daily bread”. We are called to trust Him for daily provision, not immediate abundance. “Forgive us our debts as we forgive others”. Unanswered prayers should be for us an invitation to examine our hearts. Is there unforgiveness, sin, or selfish motives hindering our relationship with God?
Maybe we are praying without seeking God’s kingdom first (Mt 6:33). We may ask for things that are not truly good for us. God, in His wisdom, sometimes answers with “Not yet” or ‘I have something better” for you in store.
The Golden Rule: Praying With the Heart of God
Jesus concludes this teaching with a fundamental moral principle: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them”. This Golden Rule reminds us that prayer is not just about receiving but also about experiencing transformation. When we ask, seek, and knock persistently, God shapes our hearts to reflect His love and mercy. As we pray, we become people who give generously, forgive freely, and trust deeply, because we have experienced the goodness of God ourselves.
[Readings: Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Matthew 7:7-12]
We proudly welcome Louie Thomas Szurgot to the extended GVM family. He was born Monday morning here in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mom -Erin (Day 28), Dad -Connor (Day7), and big brother Peter (age 2.5) are doing well.
