Thursday of the First Week

Reflection

 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find...” I love Jesus’ generous and liberating invitation to bring Him our needs. And I ask freely, almost instinctively, for many things large and small: please get me home safely in the swirling snow; help me teach this class well; keep my children safe and happy; help our College flourish; send our world peace.  Long before Jesus’ day, the legendary Queen Esther understands God’s willingness to help. She prays for courage to ask the King to save her people from annihilation.

A little backstory helps. Apparently, Esther has become Queen through a beauty contest of sorts. She is chosen by the Persian king to replace his previous wife, whom he dismissed because she refused to appear at a festival where the king wanted to parade her beauty (displaying a daring bit of spunk that needed to be curbed before the word got out and caused women to get uppity!).  Esther is brought to join the king’s harem by her uncle Mordecai, who raised the orphaned girl. The king, entranced by her beauty, chooses Esther. Her Jewish identity is kept secret.  When Mordecai discovers that an enemy has plotted to exterminate all Jews, he asks Esther to intercede with the king for her people.  Esther undoubtedly feels that her position is vulnerable, that the king could easily send her away and allow the extermination to proceed. Praying to God in the safety of her chamber is not enough. She must take action and make her case to the king—though the law forbids approaching the king unless summoned. She prays mightily to God for courage and, with great trepidation, approaches the king. To her enormous relief, he receives her with kindness, calls off the persecution of the Jewish people, and punishes the instigator.

Many injustices in our world cry out for redress. Praying for justice is the easy part. We are also called to take action—action that may frighten us and that may come at a personal cost. That is the message of Esther—to pray for courage and do what we can do to bring about justice.

Prayer

“Help me, who am alone and have no help but You.” Lord, give me the faith to bring You all my needs. Help me to see the injustice around me and to rely on Your courage when it is my turn to step forward and act.

Zsuzsanna Kádas, P’13, Professor of Mathematics

Scripture

First Reading: Ester C: 12, 14-16, 23-25

Psalm 138:1-3, 7C-8

Gospel: Matthew 7:7-12

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website