Ask and It Shall Be Given!

Mark 11:24

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

In today’s verse we find Jesus saying something that sounds exactly like what Miss Watson told Huck Finn in yesterday’s Word of Encouragement.  The difference is that this statement exists in the context of the entire teaching and life of Jesus as St. Mark is reporting it to us.  Jesus, for instance, would not recommend praying to God for the damnation of your enemies and your own salvation, since in the next verse he specifically says we must forgive “so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”  Likewise, we cannot pray for the power to worship Mammon well or for God to do neat tricks with the laws of physics just to entertain us.  As ever, the “whatever” Jesus mentions presupposes that what we are praying for is in accord with what God wills.  That said, we must also note that this is still a huge “whatever” and that history is replete with examples of saints who prayed very big things in accord with God’s will and who got what they asked for.  Today, dare to ask, in union with Christ’s Holy Church, for the gigantic realities of faith, hope and love to change your world in a real and concrete way.  God will listen and act in Christ Jesus.  He promises.

Avatar photo

By

Mark P. Shea is a popular Catholic writer and speaker. The author of numerous books, his most recent work is The Work of Mercy (Servant) and The Heart of Catholic Prayer (Our Sunday Visitor). Mark contributes numerous articles to many magazines, including his popular column “Connecting the Dots” for the National Catholic Register. Mark is known nationally for his one minute “Words of Encouragement” on Catholic radio. He also maintains the Catholic and Enjoying It blog and regularly blogs for National Catholic Register. He lives in Washington state with his wife, Janet, and their four sons.

Subscribe to CE
(It's free)

Go to Catholic Exchange homepage

MENU