This is the law and the prophets

21 FEBRUARY (Mt 7,7-12)

The Gospel of this day must be read, interpreted, understood, taking as a hermeneutical principle what Luke writes in the corresponding synoptic passage. We know that to Jesus the prayer is the source of all good that from God descends into the hearts of men; the spring of all grace, truth, mercy, compassion, concern and pity. All good for the soul and body descends from the prayer.

However, the Gospel of Luke adds a change that must be considered essential, substantial, that alone is enough to give light to the whole mystery of the prayer. In this Gospel, Jesus tells us that a man needs one thing alone: the Holy Spirit. Asked for and received the Holy Spirit, man is in perfect peace, at any time, condition, situation and event of his life. When it is the Holy Spirit that moves the heart, mind, soul and body of a man, the whole man is in the truth and grace. There is nothing more missing. He has the Holy Spirit that is the Good, source of every other good.

“Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; 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 to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Lk 11,1-13).

If we want to understand the Gospel according to Luke, we must let ourselves be helped by the revelation of Saint Paul. We find it so expressed in the letter to the Romans.

In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will. We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ (Jesus) who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? As it is written: “For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Rm 8,26-39).

This is the real end of our prayer of request: delivering our entire life in the hands of the Holy Spirit. He who is the Giver of all life, the Giver of Christ and the Father. With him at the helm of our life everything happens for our greater good. He is infinitely more than the Archangel Raphael to Tobias.

“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 to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks 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 whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints give us the Holy Spirit of God.