It would be really comforting to come to Church and hear that whatever we ask of God we will receive.
And that is what the 1st reading tells us in the first line that whatever we ask of God we will receive.
But it goes on to say that what we ask we will receive because we keep His commandments and live the life that He wants.
So it is clear that when we keep God's commandments and live the life that He wants, then what we ask of God will be nothing less than He wants of us.
Often our complaint is that God does not seem to answer our prayer.
But do we know what God wants? Or are we asking God for what we want?
To go a bit further, are we faithfully keeping God's commandments and living a life that is pleasing to God?
In the gospel, Jesus began His preaching with this message: Repent, for the kingdom of God is close at hand.
The call for repentance may not be that attractive to hear.
But when we repent of our sinfulness and turn back to God and be faithful and obedient to Him, we will truly find comfort and consolation, and there will be nothing more that we will ask for.