"Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you."

We are told “ask and you shall receive.  Seek and you shall find.”  And so asking ought to always be part of our prayer.  Seeking graces for others, the conversion of sinners, the relief of souls in purgatory, the gift of contemplation of the Word – all these and more ought to form part of our intercessory prayer, which should always form part of any prayer before the Almighty.  Even if we are simply listening attentively at his feet, before we depart we ought to ask His graces.  He desires this, for in that very prayer He Himself taught us we find no less than seven petitions, short though the prayer be.

One of these sacred petitions I find myself powerfully drawn to again and again is “give us this day our daily bread.”  There are multiple senses to this petition, and I am drawn to that sense of it which suggests we petition the Word of God to nourish us continuously with his very self, that is, the Word, which is the source of all wisdom and knowledge.

“With meekness welcome the implanted Word which has the power to save your souls” (James 1.21).  I am finding the fulfillment of my life in that verse.  I have come to see that this is the reason why I ultimately chose James the Greater, the author of this epistle, as my confirmation name, though I was perhaps too young to understand it at the time.  St. Paul said to the Colossians (1.25) “God’s commission to me is to make the word of God fully known.”  I have felt a certain kind of calling to participate in this.  Though the mysteries of the Word will take eternity to delight in, yet perhaps in the reception of some of these sacred mysteries the contemplative acts as a conduit to others in the Body of Christ who have less time due to varying calls.  But “renew in me a steadfast spirit O Lord!”

We read that James and John say to Jesus: “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” (Mark 10.35)  To our ears this may sound bold and unseemly.  For some do not obey the Lord and they never ask, out of pride (“I will not ask, I will not tempt the Lord” (Isaiah 7.12).  Some ask, but they do not know it.  They believe themselves to be content with whatever the Lord deigns to give them, when in fact their souls are pleading for consolations.  Some ask, but always include “if it be they will,” which is beautiful, since it echoes Christ’s own prayer in the garden, but as long as it is truly sincere.

Jesus does not rebuke James and John.  Rather, he replies “what is it you want me to do for you?”  The Source of all grace wants to pour grace into us, but how he longs and waits for us to ask!  The Incarnate Word waits to shine his light upon us, if we but ask!

Jesus cannot grant the request of James and John for it is not his to grant.  But he does not become angry, as the disciples do, even though, in the way we think of things, it ought – or could – be Jesus who becomes angry, not the apostles.  But perhaps they are envious of the request, or themselves desire greatness.

Jesus uses the moment to teach the meaning of being a Christian – servitude.  “Be the slave of all.”