Posts Tagged ‘Esther’s Prayer’

Learn How to Pray From Esther

Thursday, March 13th, 2014

Thursday of First Week of Lent

Esth C: 12, 14-16, 23-25; Mt 7: 7-12

Dc. Larry Brockman

 

It seemed like a hopeless situation.  The entire exiled Jewish nation was doomed by a decree of the Persian King Cyrus, Esther’s husband, after he had been tricked into signing that decree by an unscrupulous leader.  But Esther had Faith and her prayers were answered, as you will find if you read the rest of the book of Esther.   

Notice a couple of things about Esther’s prayer.  First, she is humble.  Esther prostrates herself and her entire court and she begins with a humble plea to the God of her ancestors.  Second, she talks about how God always listens to those who abide by the law.  Esther’s obedience was well established earlier in the book.  Next, her pray is not so much for herself, but rather for her people.  In other words it is for a very worthy cause.  And lastly, she was praying for God’s help to inspire her in what to do, rather than an outright miracle.  She was willing to do her part, whatever was required as long as it was God’s will.   

Jesus tells us in the Gospel that God will always hear our prayers and give us what we truly need.  But we need to ask Him in the proper way.  In that regard, we would do well to pray as Esther did: with a humble and contrite heart; while in a state of grace from our obedience to God’s commandments and will; asking for something that we truly need rather than just want; and prepared to play an active role in making the answer to the prayer happen.   

Then, after we pray, we need to trust that God will answer our prayer.  We need to recognize that what He gave us was a fish, not a snake.  Sometimes that can seem hard because our prayers are not always answered the way we want them.  But consider that if this is the summary of the law and the prophets:  “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you”.  Then certainly God will do for us what is right for us.