Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25 Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8 Mt 1:1

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer Praying Lent The Daily Reflections

Jesus teaches that we should not hand our child a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread. If our child, someone we care for and love, asked for nourishment, we would not give him something unrelated and not meet the need he has. It is obvious to all of us that we would want to provide the best for our child. But what about the person we do not know? According to this teaching, we are to also treat others with the love and care we would treat our child with.

It is not fair to assume what a person needs or does not need; rather, we should ask first. For example, a third grader keeps falling asleep in class. If the teacher asks first, he may discover that the student did not eat breakfast that morning and that is part of the reason she is dozing off. The teacher’s initial response could have been to make the student stand so she does not fall asleep, but the root of the problem is lack of food.

The child in this passage asks for food because he/she is hungry and needs nourishment. The parent would not provide a stone to a child in need of food. We would not want to be handed a rock when our stomach was rumbling with hunger. If we truly listen, we will hear what someone needs, not what we assume they need.

As we move into the day, let us remember to “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” Let us take a moment to ask and to truly listen.