The gospel for Thursday of the first week in Lent is taken from Matthew. 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. For everyone who asks receives. And the one who seeks finds.

And the one who knocks the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread? Or a snake when he asked for a fish? 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? Do to others what you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.

The Kingdom of God is our work here on this planet. We are here to participate in its becoming. And it doesn’t just come to people. There’s something within us that longs to understand it. So it’s a beautiful way that Jesus is talking about how we participate in the Kingdom. We, we need to ask for wisdom, we need to seek answers, we need to ponder questions.

And most especially when we do this, the promise is that we will knock on the door of the kingdom and we will be allowed in. Please pause and reflect upon these images. And then I will close with a prayer. Sat Sat Sa Sam. Sa Sam. Satan Sam Foreign.

Make it clear that the Kingdom is something that is experienced both now and forever. And as we participate in its being founded on this earth, we are reminded that there’s a simple rule that you could use and that’s simply due to other people what you would like them to do to to you. It’s so simple, but yet so powerful. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.