Daily Catholic Lectio
Thu, 13 March ‘25
First Week of Lent – Thursday
Esther 4:17ff. Psalm 138. Matthew 7:7-12
Power of Prayer
Do you ever ask yourself: “What can I do as a weak person?” Today’s readings teach us that, even in our weakness, we can achieve anything through prayer.
Esther’s Prayer
In today’s first reading, Queen Esther prays fervently. Let’s understand the context:
The king issues a decree to kill all the Jews in the city. Esther is unaware of this decision.
Her guardian and uncle Mordecai informs her: “Remember how you were once just an ordinary girl under my care. Now, the king’s highest official, Haman, has spoken against us and convinced the king to destroy our people. You must pray to the Lord and plead for us before the king—save us from death!”
Esther hesitates at first.
Mordecai responds: “Do not think that you alone will escape. If you remain silent, salvation will come from elsewhere. But perhaps you have been made queen for this very moment!”
Realizing her responsibility now, Esther calls for fasting and collective prayer. Her heartfelt prayer in distress is today’s first reading.
What does this event teach us?
(a) Prayer gives us hope in difficult times, when we have our liminal experience. When all doors seem closed, prayer opens the door to God.
(b) Prayer reminds us of the limits of human power and authority. Ministers may conspire, kings may approve, but above all of them is God, who controls history.
(c) Prayer is not just personal—it is communal. When we pray together, our strength multiplies.
Jesus on prayer: ask, seek, knock
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says: “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; those who seek find; and to those who knock, the door will be opened.”
This may seem contradictory to His earlier teaching: “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”
How do we understand this?
Though God knows our needs, prayer helps us recognize them ourselves and engages in fulfilling our needs.
Key takeaways
(a) Turn to God in times of limitation. When we feel “I can do nothing more,” that is when we need to seek Him. But we must also do our part—whatever is in our power. We must do what we can.
(b) Prayer invites God into our struggles, and God works through us. We ask for help, but we must also act.
(c) We must be clear about what we seek. If our prayers lack clarity, our search will not progress.
Asking, seeking, and knocking—these three must go together!
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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