Asking for things has always been difficult for me. Perhaps because I fear a response such as  “no, and how dare you ask”.  By being the one who asks I sometimes feel as if I am beholden to the person from whom I desire something and that makes me uncomfortable – can I ever repay in kindness what has been given? I don’t want to owe anyone anything. There may be a selfish motive there as well –  in my mind being the debtor puts me in a one-down position.

The readings today start with the Big Ask of Queen Esther. She lived during the time of Jewish exile . Orphaned as a child, she was raised by a cousin, Mordecai. When she was selected to be Queen he advised her for her protection to keep her Jewish identity a secret. The law of the land forbade anyone on pain of death, even the Queen, to approach the King without being summoned by him first. When Esther learned of a plot to exterminate all the Jewish people, men, women and children, she  “seized with mortal anguish” had recourse to the Lord. Begging the Lord to save her people, she risked death and her second Big Ask, this time of God, and the King, did indeed save her people, thus preventing the first holocaust. It is said Esther showed that nothing is impossible with God.

The reassuring psalm reinforces how good it is to ask for help from God. “Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.”

In the gospel, Jesus paints beautifully graphic pictures in the well-known “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ….your heavenly Father (will) give good things to those who ask him.”
I noticed Jesus does not specify that you will receive exactly what you ask for….but it will be good. As a loving parent does not give an unhelpful or dangerous request from their child a positive answer, the best interests of the child hold sway in the response.

Thinking of Jesus’ Big Ask of the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane to “remove this cup from me but not my will but yours be done ” , I am encouraged to be brave and ask God for what I desire and trust that there will be an answer that is good for me, just not always what I had in mind. What a great chance to exercise the cardinal virtues of faith, hope and charity and trust that our loving Lord hears and answers. Go ahead and ask!