Day in and day out, Mario sat begging for alms. Whether in the heat of a Roman summer or during the humid wintry days, he would sit patiently outside the seminary gate atop the Janiculum Hill. Every morning as I left for class, the routine was the same: “Buongiorno, Mario. Tutto bene?” With a kind smirk, he would respond, “Si, Padre. Buonagiornata.”

One particular day, as I greeted Mario and made my way down the hill, I thought to myself, “Gosh, it’d be really hard to spend a lifetime begging and constantly asking others for things.” As I continued walking, I prayed my rosary. About halfway through, I thought, “I probably seem like Mario when I pray; sitting at the feet of God, begging and asking for all kinds of things.” 

At that moment, I understood  that I too was a beggar. I realized I had become exactly who I didn’t want to be when I was growing up—a poor man. With some initial hesitancy, I accepted my poverty and status as a fellow beggar. I thought to myself, “This is how it works—I ask and God gives.” Is it not the same for all of us? Are we not all impoverished beggars before God?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus instructs his disciples to ask for things: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” These words should inspire a confidence in us which soothes any fears we may have about being needy in prayer. Each of us sits before God everyday with various needs and requests. Providentially, these needs and requests are alleviated and granted when we have the confidence to express them. Like when a farmer plants seeds for his harvest or a student opens her book to gain knowledge, our prayers actually bring about a real effect. If the farmer didn’t plant seeds, would he reap a harvest? If a student never opened her books, would she earn a good grade? If one ceased knocking at God’s door and begging at his feet, would he receive all that he needs and desires?

Our prayer is not superstitious. Neither does it only satisfy our affections. Prayer is a means of obtaining things from God. Like a father who showers his children with presents at Christmas, Jesus explains that the Heavenly Father gives each of his children gifts when they ask. Jesus reasons: “Which 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.” 

Later that day, I returned to the seminary after classes and saw Mario sitting in his usual spot. It began to rain and he was without an umbrella. I walked up to him and he asked me if I would spare my umbrella. I certainly could. If my Heavenly Father gives me good things when I ask him, who was I—a fellow beggar—to deny Mario an umbrella? As I walked into the seminary feeling the rain on my head, it became clear to me: unless we ask God for things, we may not receive them. Jesus instructs his disciples to ask, seek, and knock in order to obtain. It’s good for us to express our needs, even and especially to God. May our Lenten prayer be one of begging boldly at the feet of our generous Father, the giver of all good gifts.

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Image: Generated with AI.