Gospel: Matthew 7: 7-12

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Prayer, formal and informal, is how we communicate with God.

Today's gospel challenges us to be prayerful.

Not that He will grant us our wishes should they be harmful or in pursuit of ill motives.

More important is that we trust in God. That we have faith in Him as He does in us. Trust that He will never abandon us.

Let me share a prayer I've shared with my students this year:

"Ever loving God, Jesus taught us to never stop praying for what we want. Help us to see that sometimes what we want isn't what we need.

When we think you don't seem to hear our prayers, help us remember that you know what is best for us.

Open our hearts to hear and accept all the answers to our prayers.

In thanks, we pray, Amen."