Esther 4:17 / Matthew 7:7-12
Prayers are said in Church, and as usual, we say the prayers in a sober and solemn way.
But not all prayers are said in Church.
Some of the most fervent and desperate prayers are said in hospitals.
To be warded in hospital would mean that the illness or sickness required specialized treatment.
And the patient would be desperately praying for a cure and relief from pain.
But it is not expected that desperate prayers be heard in palaces.
In the 1st reading, queen Esther was facing a mortal peril which had overtaken her.
But she took refuge with the Lord and she besought the Lord God with fervent prayers from the depths of her heart.
And it was the final sentence of her prayers that expressed the depth of her prayer:
“come to my help, for I am alone and have no one but you Lord”.
Yes, our prayers are most fervent and desperate when we have only God for our help.
In the gospel, Jesus said this: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
Let us always ask the Lord first, so that we will search at the right places and the right door will be opened for us.
And may prayer be our first option and our last option when we are in a desperate situation.