Back in high school there was a party one weekend that some friends and I had been invited to and we were planning to attend. My best friend’s mom dropped us off and as we were walking towards the front door we caught a glimpse of one of the cool and intimidating girls in our class. In an instant the four of us made a decision not to attend the party, we turned around and ran back to the car. Instead of going to the party that night, we had a slumber party together and laughed at ourselves and had a really good time. I haven’t thought about this night since then, but for some reason listening to a song tonight made me think of it. I wondered about the feelings my friend’s mom must have experienced that night. I think she was probably sad to see us exclude ourselves from a party out of fear and intimidation. I would have been very sad to see this happen to my girls. As a parent it is one thing to see your children excluded by others, but to see them exclude themselves leaves you completely helpless.
In the gospel of St. Matthew 7:7
Jesus said ” Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Thinking about this tonight made me wonder
- Am I humble enough to realize that the gates of heaven will not be standing wide open for me when I arrive?
- Am I fearless enough to have the courage to knock on those enormous, beautiful and radiant gates?
In the gospel of St. Matthew 15:22 – 28
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Finally thinking about this next passage in conjunction made me wonder
- Am I humbly persistent enough to keep knocking until the gates are opened?
I want to teach my children to be humble, fearless and persistent. I want to teach them to include others and themselves.
Include yourself! God is our Father and if it pains me to see my children exclude themselves then imagine how painful it is for Him to see billions of His children exclude themselves everyday.
Jesus wants ALL of us, He is preparing the rooms and He told us to knock when we arrive just as any friend inviting us to His parents home would ask us to knock when we arrived!
It is Our Best Life! Let’s believe it together and it will be for all of us!
