Bible reading: February 26th : First Reading I am alone, Lord, and have no-one but you A Reading from the book of Esther 4:17m, 17o–17q, 17x–17z Esther the queen seized with deathly anxiety, fled to the Lord; And she prayed to the Lord God of Israel and said: “O my Lord, you only are our King; help me, who am alone and have no helper but you, for my danger is in my hand. Ever since I was born I have heard in the tribe of my family that you, O Lord, took Israel out of all the nations and our fathers from among all their ancestors for an everlasting inheritance and that you did for them all that you promised. Remember, O Lord; make yourself known in this time of our affliction and give me courage, O King of the gods and Master of all dominion! Put eloquent speech in my mouth before the lion and turn his heart to hate the man who is fighting against us, so that there may be an end of him and those who agree with him. But save us by your hand and help me, who am alone and have no helper but you, O Lord.” The Word of the Lord. February 26th : Responsorial Psalm Psalm 138:1–2a, 2bcd–3, 7d–8 (R. 3a) Response : On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord. I thank you, Lord, with all my heart; you have heard the words of my mouth. In the presence of the angels I praise you. I bow down toward your holy temple. R.: On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord. I give thanks to your name for your merciful love and your faithfulness. You have exalted your name over all. On the day I called, you answered me; you increased the strength of my soul. R.: On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord. With your right hand you save me; the Lord will accomplish this for me. O Lord, your merciful love is eternal; discard not the work of your hands. R.: On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord. Verse before the Gospel V. Glory and praise to you, O Christ. R Glory and praise to you, O Christ. V. Create a pure heart for me, O God; restore in me the joy of your salvation. R. Glory and praise to you, O Christ. February 26th : Gospel Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St.Matthew 7:7-12 At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” The Gospel of the Lord. ___________ Today's Gospel Reflection: Jesus said to his disciples: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7–8 Will God grant us whatever we ask for? Though one might conclude this from today’s Gospel, Jesus qualifies His statement by adding, “…how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.” In other words, God always gives “good” things to those who sincerely ask. The key question is: What qualifies as good? If we desire something—such as a new car—and perceive it as good, will God grant us that wish simply because we ask in faith? Only if God also sees that gift as good for us. He promises to meet our most basic material needs and provide for all our spiritual needs, but He might not see specific requests as beneficial. For instance, what if driving an old car is better for your soul in fostering simplicity or detachment? God may prompt us to forego that desire for a new car in exchange for something better. God always offers us what is truly good, but this good is defined by His perfect wisdom, not by our immediate wants. What, then, does God perceive as good? Above all, He is the ultimate Good. God is Goodness itself, and there is nothing greater we can ask for than the gift of Himself. If we ask Him to fill our hearts with His grace, uniting Himself with our souls, He will never fail to do so. Moreover, God’s will is perfect in every way. If we seek His will, He will reveal it to us. The door He wants to open is the one that leads us to grace, mercy, and the fulfillment of His will. It will always be opened when we knock on this door with a heart seeking His divine plan. One of the most common human struggles is to discern the difference between our will and God’s. In our fallen state, we are confused about what is truly good. As a result, when we perceive something as good—such as material success, comfort, or recognition—our desires often become fixated on that false good. Once this attachment forms, letting go and trusting God’s will can be challenging. The remedy is detachment—precisely, detachment from our disordered desires. Our passions and desires can be unruly, leading us to pursue things not aligned with God’s plan. Detachment begins with allowing God’s truth to purify our minds and reorder our desires. As divine wisdom takes root, we begin to desire what God desires and become free from selfish ambitions. This interior transformation enables us to ask, seek, and knock for the things that lead to holiness. Reflect today on Jesus’ call to ask, seek, and knock. Do so abundantly—but not for superficial wants or fleeting pleasures. Instead, ask for God Himself and His holy will to be made manifest in your life. Pray that He fills you with His grace, purifies your thoughts, and aligns your desires with His perfect plan. When you do, your Heavenly Father will bestow upon you every good thing beyond anything you could ask for. God of perfect Goodness, Your ways are infinitely wise and holy. You desire only the true good for Your children. Please purify my mind and heart so I may desire nothing but You and Your will. Free me from selfish attachments and misguided desires, and pour forth Your abundant grace into my life. Jesus, I trust in You #Bible reading