“Ask and you shall receive,
seek and you shall find,
knock and the door shall be opened to you.
For whoever asks, receives;
whoever seeks, finds;
whoever knocks, is admitted.” (Luke 11:1-11)

I'm not really a “sarado-katoliko”. I rarely go to mass. In fact, I underwent confirmation (‘kompil”) a month before I got married, and perhaps the first time I felt God’s presence was when I took the bar exams. Almost half of my review period was spent gallivanting around, going out-of-town and having a good time. It was not until a little more than a month before the exams when I realized that I have not even finished “first reading” (this refers not to that part of the mass, but to the number of times you’ve read all review materials, ideally 3 times). That was the first time I had nightmares, waking up at dawn drenched in sweat. That was the first time I went to church, alone, in the middle of the night. That was the first time I “talked” TO God (well, I did not expect God to talk back…how would you feel when the huge crucified Christ at the U.P. Chapel talks back at you). That was the first time my tears fell, without me noticing it, while praying. I asked God to give me the strength to go on. My prayers were answered.

Today’s gospel reminded me of two things.

First, I'm guilty (perhaps many of us are also guilty) of remembering God only when I ask for something. During the bar exams, I would often start my prayers by admitting this. I was genuinely ashamed of asking for anything because I forgot God in happier times. Yet, I told Him that I really have no one to turn to; He is my refuge...and I have to ask.

Second, and this is actually more of a realization than a reminder, the gospel means that only those who ask, and work for what they ask, who will often times get it. What you ask becomes your goal, and what to do becomes clearer with a goal in mind. As the saying goes: “Sa tao ang gawa, nasa Diyos ang awa”. The Pinoy Entrepreneurs, however, need not be told about this, as they most probably know it through years of hard work and business rollercoaster.  

Hmmm, now I think I'm really getting old.