February 26, 2026
I Thursday of Lent
Fr. John Luke Gregory
Greetings from the Custody of the Holy Land. I am Fr. Luke, parish priest of the islands of Rhodes and Kos, and I welcome you to today's episode of our special Lenten series.
As we undertake this sacred journey, let us pause to reflect on the profound wisdom found in the teachings of Jesus, particularly on the beautiful gestures of asking, seeking, and knocking. These gestures, central to our faith, serve as guiding pillars in this time of reflection.
In the Gospel, Jesus offers His followers a promise that resonates deeply in our hearts: "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you." This powerful message goes beyond mere words, inviting us into a relationship of trust and reliance on the abundant generosity of God. It is an invitation to remember that, even amid uncertainty and challenges, we are cradled by divine love.
Reflecting on the context in which Jesus spoke these words, we can imagine the anxiety His disciples must have faced. They were navigating a world filled with trials and tribulations, yet Jesus comforts them with this invitation to trust.
His reassurance is a luminous reminder that our cries and supplications do not fall into emptiness, rather, they encounter a loving response from our Heavenly Father.
Moreover, Jesus clarifies the nature of this divine generosity through a compelling analogy. He asks us to consider our human relationships: who among us would offer a stone as sustenance when a child asks for bread, or a serpent when he asks for a fish? This image clearly illustrates the essence of God's love for us: it is not only good, but also generous and constantly seeks our well being. It urges us to believe that, like a loving parent,
God desires to provide us with what we truly need. In relation to these teachings, Jesus also offers us a fundamental principle that echoes throughout all Scripture: the invitation to treat others as we would wish to be treated. This directive encapsulates the essence of the Law and the Prophets, inviting us to evaluate our interactions, the core of our faith manifested in daily life. As we journey through this season of Lent, we are urged to reflect on how we embody this principle. Are we, in our requests to God, open and trusting? How do we embody the spirit of generosity and kindness toward those around us?
Every prayer request can be a moment of reflection and renewal, urging us to cultivate a spirit of service and compassion. Furthermore, Lent calls us to a deeper examination of our communal relationships. How do we, as a community, reflect the love of our Creator? As we seek the goodness of God, let us remember that we are also called to be vessels of love and generosity ourselves.
By seeking God's presence in our lives, we become the instruments through which His grace flows to others. As we walk together through these weeks leading to Easter, let us take time to seriously reflect on the nature of our prayers. Are they simply requests for our own needs, or do they also include the needs of others? Our ability to pray not only for ourselves, but also for our brothers and sisters in Christ reflects a broad understanding of love, which is at the heart of our journey of faith. May this season of Lent be marked by a growing awareness of our spiritual needs and those of our community. A heart open to receive, a spirit eager to seek, and hands ready to serve: this is the essence of our journey in this sacred time.
As we move forward in this season of penance and reflection, let us commit ourselves to becoming more aware. May we raise our prayers, making them a strong expression of faith. By engaging with God and with one another sincerely, we cultivate a living community of God's love, a tapestry woven by our collective seeking.
In conclusion, remember the beautiful promise made by Jesus: if we ask, we will receive, if we seek, we will find, and if we knock, the door will be opened. Reflect on how you can put this promise into practice in your life and in the lives of those around you. May our hearts remain attuned to the whispers of the Divine, guiding us in this sacred season.
Thank you for being here with us today. May you continue to reflect deeply on these themes in the days ahead and may your Lenten journey be rich in grace.
