"Ask, and the gift will come..." (Matthew 7:7)

Over the past week, I have heard and contributed to three separate conversations on the differences between the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Divine Mercy devotion. My arguments about the latter from three years ago have not changed. I still have reservations about the way the devotion came to the wider Church. The one thing I would change about my previous post is how I came across. But, "the prudent man who dost things with wise counsel" I was not. Mea culpa.

What brings me here is a query I heard from the first conversation. I relay it here in case a reader comes to our blog with a struggle about the Church or another spiritual matter. The person was relating how they were struggling with finding a yearning for a devotion to the Sacred Heart. How could they find this yearning? In response, I said they should simply ask for this yearning, in light of this famous passage from Matthew 7:

Ask, and the gift will come; seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened to you. Everyone that asks, will receive; that seeks, will find; that knocks, will have the door opened to him. If any one of yourselves is asked by your son for bread, will he give him a stone? If he is asked for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead? Why then, as evil as you are, know well enough how to give your children what is good for them, is not your Father in heaven much more ready to give wholesome gifts to those who ask him? Matthew 7:7-11 (R. Knox Version).

Be it a desire to have a devotion to the Sacred Heart, or any other devotion, or to keep the Faith in times where the humanity of the Church is heavily scrutinized and exposed for all the world to see - whatever spiritual good you desire, all you have to do is ask. Of course, the caveat is that one has to be in a state of grace and that these goods must be what is needed for their state in life. But, the point remains - "Ask, and the gift will come." Don't be afraid to ask for a spiritual good with confidence and perseverance. He will give it to you, should it fit His Purpose for you, to be with Him forever and ever.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the role of Mary in this. 

All of the great Marian writers mention Mary's co-operation with God's spiritual gifts to us here below. Indeed, She, full of grace, is the greatest intercessor we have. Whatever spiritual good we ask of Mary with confidence, courage, and perseverance, She will bring it to Her Son. It is said that He cannot refuse His Mother anything, just like it is here below with sons and their mothers. Indeed, I have heard it said that Mary is quite eager to carry our spiritual requests to Her Son, with joy. So, do not be afraid to ask Her for the spiritual goods you need. She will help you in line with God and His Purpose.

We need only ask. Do not be afraid to ask for spiritual goods from God and His Mother. It will come, in due time, in one form or another. Blessed be the Names of Mary and Jesus forever and ever. Amen.