“Teach me to seek you, and reveal yourself to me as I seek, because I can neither seek you if you do not teach me how, nor find you unless you reveal yourself.”
READ: MATTHEW 7:7–14
“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. Is there a man among you who would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or would hand him a snake when he asked for a fish? If you, then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets. Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to perdition is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
YOUR THREE-STEP GUIDE TO DAILY MENTAL PRAYER
REFLECT
Friendship cannot be forced, not even friendship with God. Since Christ wants us to relate to Him as friends, not as zombies, He refuses to force us to follow Him. He lets us seek happiness in the world’s many empty wells and false promises, if we so choose. And yet He wants us to look for it in Him. Imagine how eagerly and energetically He pronounced this threefold command: “Ask! Seek! Knock!” It’s as if He is pleading for us to turn to Him, to let Him be our guide and coach and Savior and friend. It’s all His heart wants. Why do so many refuse the invitation?
RESPOND
Certain things always remind me of Your goodness: the beauties of nature, the crucifix, the love of my family. . . . How many there are! Right now I want to contemplate them, to remember them. . . . Strengthen my conviction, Lord, that You are the perfect Father, who loves me even more than I love myself. Always remind me of Your goodness, so I will never, ever walk away from You.
REST
I believe in You, Lord, and so I believe You when You say that the meaning of life and the quality of my discipleship correspond to the way I treat my neighbor in thought, word, and deed. And isn’t that how You lived? Your whole life was one continuous act of self-giving that reached its climax on the Cross. Teach me to give my whole self to You. Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart more like Yours.
Whenever I have really asked, sought, or knocked, You have rewarded me with a new experience of Your goodness. Why don’t I ask more? Is it because I think I can give meaning and fruitfulness to my life all by myself? That is foolish, I know. But I am a fool, Lord. I need Your wisdom and grace to transform me.
RESOLVE
How can I carry this encounter with me into the day? (Write / Journal)
CLOSING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Most Blessed and Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for Your love and Your grace in allowing me this time of prayer with You.
The world, the flesh, and the devil will all propose things I should focus on and run after today. I beg You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me instead to know and embrace Your will. Help me to see what You desire of me each moment of this day. Give me the wisdom, strength, and fortitude I need to avoid distractions, discern Your will, and focus on and carry out that which Wisdom reveals. Help me to work and live at a pace of peace and prayerfulness, always attentive to You, able to hear Your voice and to say no to anything that hinders my journey to You and a complete yes to every Holy prompting from You.
Help me to humbly and purposefully live, light, and lead others to the path of union with You and to tell everyone about this way of life. Amen.
About the Author
Fr. John Bartunek was ordained in 2003. He has taught moral theology at various ecclesiastical institutions at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has authored many books, including the Gospel companion, The Better Part, and Inside the Passion, the only authorized behind-the-scenes look at the film, for which he provided on-set spiritual support. His online retreat guides are available in multiple formats at RCSpirituality.org. Fr. John currently resides in Atlanta, where he is serving as territorial vicar for the Legionaries of Christ.
