When one door is closed…

I always love hearing the Gospel reading that was read in yesterday’s mass about Jesus telling us to “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9). It is always encouraging to me to hear those words. I’ve always asked a lot of questions and been a big dreamer, even as a child  and especially as an adult (I think that’s why I made a pretty good news reporter years ago!) Yet sometimes, I think I put limits on my asking, seeking, knocking, forgetting that my God is a limitless, all-powerful God who can move mountains if so inclined. And I stay bound in the “chains” I create…self-imposed limits of anxiety, worry, frustration, doubt. Often, I ask once or knock on one door and then, given no immediate answer, I stop knocking, figuring God has enough to worry about, forgetting there may be another door, or to just knock one more time. Yet in the same Gospel reading of Luke in Chapter 11, Jesus also tells us the parable of the man who knocks on his friend’s door asking for bread for another friend who has arrived at his house after a journey, having nothing to give him. The “friend” inside the house doesn’t answer…at first…denying his request. Jesus is portraying God as this “friend,” and goes further to say, “…if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of the friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.” Of course God is our best friend…and may deny us the first time. Does that mean we should keep asking/seeking/knocking? Absolutely, according to Jesus. In fact, in the same Gospel chapter, He even gives us the “Our Father” prayer just in case we can’t find the words! And if it’s God’s will, and for our good, and according to His plan, perhaps, in His timing, we shall receive! So let’s pray today we don’t limit ourselves in our asking and that we never give up seeking and knocking!