And so I say to you, ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For the one who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to him who knocks the door will be opened.
     If your child asks for a fish, will you give him a snake instead? And if your child asks for an egg, will you give him a scorpion? If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

REFLECTION:
      Caused by the request of the dis­ciple, Jesus continues to teach how to pray. He gave a model, known to us now as the ”The Lord‘s prayer.” This time ­Jesus points to a very important element of prayer, persistence. On persistence, two points are emphasized by Him. Persistence on the part of the one praying manifested by the traveler­ in the gospel today and in ­another passage, by the woman ­asking justice from the Judge. The judge rendered his decision due to the persistence of the woman.(Lk.18:1-8)
      The second is the persistence of God or His determined resolve to give the need of His children from His goodness, manifested clearly from the following texts of the gospel today.
      ”Though He will not get up and ­attend to you because you are friend….and He will give you all you need.”
     ”It will be given. You will find. It will be opened.”
    ”If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”
     Our God is all GOOD, truly concerned with us. His refusal to our ­requests is still an answer from His goodness. He knows not only what is good but what is best.