Lent with Bossuet – Meditations on the Gospel (35)

Pray With Faith. Ask. Seek. Knock.

Counting with St. Mark, this day is the fourth day of the last week of our Saviour. The first was that of His entrance, which is the fifth before Easter. The second day of this week began the next morning when Jesus Christ, returning from Bethany to the city, being hungry, withered the barren fig tree and cleared the Temple of “thieves,” as He called them. The third day is the one during which morning the disciples passed the same fig tree and saw that it was withered and dry; it is also the day when we heard so many marvels concerning the faith.

“Amen, I say to you, if you shall have faith, and stagger not, not only this of the fig tree shall you do, but also if you shall say to this mountain, take up and cast thyself into the sea, it shall be done. And all things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive” (Mt. 21:21-22).

Look then how far you have gotten through your sin, and then ask for your conversion with faith. Do not say that it is impossible. Though your sins be of a weight more crushing than that of a mountain, pray, and He will listen to your prayer. “Believe firmly that you will obtain what you ask for, and it shall be given to you.” Jesus Christ makes use of these extraordinary comparisons to show that everything is possible to him who prays.

Be courageous, dear Christian, and never despair of your salvation.