Daily Readings for March 9, 2017

1ST READING

Queen Esther comes before the king and takes the risk of pleading on behalf of her people. This is dangerous for Esther because the king does not like to receive visitors nor listen to unsolicited advice. But she trusts the Lord to protect her. She believes she is doing God’s will and that her action will bear good fruit.

Esther: 12, 14-16, 23-25

28 [C:12] Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, had recourse to the Lord. 30 [C:14] She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids, from morning until evening, and said: God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, 31 [C:15] for I am taking my life in my hand. 32 [C:16] As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers that you, O Lord, always free those who are pleasing to you. 39 [C:23] Now help me who am alone and have no one but you, O Lord my God. And now come to help me, an orphan.40 [C:24] Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion, and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy, so that he and those who are in league with him may perish. 41 [C:25] Save us from the hand of our enemies; turn our mourning into gladness and our sorrows into wholeness.

P S A L M

Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 7-8

R: Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

1 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; 2 I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name. (R) Because of your kindness and your truth; for you have made great above all things your name and your promise. 3 When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. (R)  7 Your right hand saves me. 8 The Lord will complete what he has done for me; your kindness, O Lord, endures forever; forsake not the work of your hands. (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus exhorts us to persevere in prayer for our needs. There will be a time when we have to keep on asking God for a particular grace or gift. Only in persevering will we receive it. Is God being mean? He is measuring the desire in our heart to do His will. “Desire is the key to prayer,” says Teresa of Avila.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

A clean heart create for me, God; give me back the joy of your salvation.

Matthew 7:7-12

7 Jesus said to his disciples: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread, 10 or a snake when he asked for a fish? 11 If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. 12 “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”