In today’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus continues his intense teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. Before laying out the Golden Rule, He instructs his disciples in the familiar “ask, and ye shall receive” narrative: that everyone who asks, receives; who seeks, finds; and who knocks, will find the door opened.
Really, Lord? ANYTHING? Some may ask whether Jesus is laying out some sort of prosperity gospel that guarantees us the Ferrari we always dreamed of. Others may feel they don’t really deserve to even ask, given their own mistakes and everything God has on His plate. How do we sort out Jesus’ intentions?
A Generous Father
St. John Chrysostom, writing in the fifth century, likened Jesus to a generous father with a benevolent and forgiving disposition toward his children, but who wants to make sure that what they are given is what they need and will benefit from. He assures us that we should not despair of asking on account of the weight of our own sins but can have hope because of God’s fatherly goodness. But he advises that a proper request from one who prays involves spiritual things (that rules out the Ferrari) and requires that the person:
(1) ask earnestly, and
(2) ask such things as he ought to ask.
Proper and Improper Requests
Matthew’s Gospel helps illustrate the difference between proper and improper requests, using the contrasting imagery of the loaf (symbolizing knowledge of God and His doctrine) and the fish (faith through the waters of baptism) versus the stone (ignorance, hardness of heart) and the snake (unbelief, the wiles of the Devil).
St. John Chrysostom cites the example of Solomon. Even Solomon was slightly reluctant and unsure of himself in approaching God as he prepared to step into the shoes of his father, King David. We recall that God was pleased because Solomon could have asked for anything, but asked only for things that were right, especially a discerning heart (wisdom and understanding).
Only Good Things
He sums up: God does not give all things to them that ask Him, but only good things, proper things. This lesson then ties in to the Golden Rule in this way: a person must be willing to do for others the things he asks God to provide to him.
St. John concludes, “From this it is clear that virtue is defined in accordance with our nature. So we all know within ourselves what our duties are. We cannot ever again find refuge in ignorance.”
