"Ask and it will be given to you"

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened".

  “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:7-11)

This week the gospels have described Jesus appearing to the disciples after His Resurrection.  They initially don’t recognize him and then a veil is lifted and they see him plainly.  This morning was not any different.  After daily Mass I made an announcement about this Sunday’s children’s rosary.  That the children are dedicating their upcoming year to renewal of family prayer and will be giving out Children’s Bibles and handmade bookmarks at our rosary.  I also mentioned that 171 novenas are underway to saints asking them to lead our families as we set out. Each saint has been asked to choose one family to lead and that saint will be written on one Bible or bookmark.  After the announcement, Fr. Jacob, the priest who said the  Mass approached me.  He is the pastor from Holy Trinity Church in Hartford.  With pleading eyes he asked if we could bring children’s Bibles to his Parish.  He told me there is a real need there.  My first reaction was to tell him we would probably have Bibles left over from this weekend and we could give them to his Parish.  He asked me to really think about it.  As I was walking home from Mass it was as if a veil was lifted.  I could see Jesus in this request.  He had heard all of our prayers-that we may experience renewal of family prayer and spread it across the globe.  Here was the first step.  The children would bring Bibles to Holy Trinity Parish with saints written on each one.  Children and families from one Parish reaching out to another.  Those families receiving the Bibles would be asked to say novenas and contribute to Bibles not for themselves but for families at another parish that they might never meet.  Hand to hand we will spread renewal of family prayer and reading of the Bible in our homes.  For months I could not see how this would all happen but in faith we proceeded knowing that we have a loving God.  He heard us and is now showing us the way.  We did not have to go and knock on doors, the door was already opened for us and a person with pleading eyes was looking back asking for our help.  How wonderful God is to us.  He loves us immeasurably. 

Bibles will be given out this weekend at our morning children’s rosary and then in the afternoon at our Divine Mercy celebration.  Many new families who do not know about our children’s rosary will be there as 45 families from our parochial school have been invited.  We will ask them to choose a saint and begin a novena from a new wish list of saints and contribute to the purchase of new Bibles.  Those Bibles will then be brought to Trinity church and given to those families.  The thought comes as I am writing that maybe we can bring the bibles to Holy Trinity Church on Trinity Sunday June 3rd. In anticipation of our first step out of our parish  we may be able to say a novena to the Trinity to bless this first endeavor and bless us with more parishes who desire our help.  Joy fills my heart as I realize what is unfolding.  Each one of us fits into the puzzle, through prayer we see where we need to go.  With so many of us praying the Lord in His mercy will unveil to each one of us his desires.  We will see him in the face of another and hear his request and in our heart know what our answer should be.  Thank you all for what you have helped bring to fruition.  We have much more work ahead of us but the door is open and we need only walk through it with our Blessed Mother and Jesus.  God bless!!!!!