Mass Readings and Reflection for February 26th 2026

Bible Verses for further Study and Reference

First Reading: (Esther 14:1, 3–5, 12–14)
Psalms: (Psalm 138)
Gospel: (Matthew 7:7–12)

Reflection

Today's Gospel reading is one of my all time favorites. Ask!

Ask for what will take you closer to God, not away from Him.

The biblical passage of Matthew 7:7 is a very common and familiar one. Many people, a very many people have memorized it, and it is one of the most cited in the Bible. Sometimes it is even quoted when jokes are made:

“Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened.”

Verse 8 adds more depth:

“Everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. Everyone who knocks will have the door opened.”

These words of Jesus were words of assurance to His disciples never to give up- that no prayer goes unanswered and nothing they ask from God is ignored. All they need to do is ask, knock, and search.

Just ask.
Just knock.
Just search.

However, these words can be disputed by those who have asked but never received, who have knocked on the doors of heaven and felt them heavily bolted, who have searched but never found.

Such persons may ask:

How long must one knock?
How long must one ask?
How long must one seek/search?

Jesus did not say “ask once,” “knock once,” or “search once.” There is no time limit. He simply says: ask, seek, knock.

But we must ensure that we ask the right thing, from the right Person, for the right reason.

We may have been asking for the wrong things, searching in the wrong places, or knocking on the wrong doors.

God is not deaf. Persistence does not mean shouting louder; it means continuing in faith.

The second part of the Gospel is crucial:

No father gives a stone when his child asks for bread, nor a serpent when he asks for fish. Likewise, God will not give us what will harm us.

We may be asking for things that would destroy us, distract us, or pull us away from Him.

Therefore, let us ask:

What am I asking God for?
Why am I asking for it?
Will it bring me closer to God?

Some blessings, if we are honest, have taken people farther from God:

A job with more money but no time for prayer
Power that feeds pride
Success that weakens faith

God’s refusal is often protection.

Should we stop asking if we have not received?

No.
But we must remain open.

God may answer differently.
God may answer later.
God may answer in ways we do not expect.

You may ask for a pen; God may give you a pencil-because He knows you may need to erase things later.

My friends, we must trust God’s wisdom.

Keep asking.
Keep seeking.
Keep knocking.

But we must ask for a need, not a want.
Ask for what leads us closer to God and not farther from Him.

Amen.

God bless you and have a wonderful day 🙏 

Pal Ronnie