Accepting the Responsibility

Matthew 7: 7-12

“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asked for bread, would give a stone? Or if the child asked for a fish, would give a snake? If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

When we ask for a better world, we must be willing to embody it. When we seek God’s kingdom, we must reflect its values. When we knock on heaven’s door, we must open earthly doors for others.

In Matthew 7:7–12, Jesus invites us into movement: ask… seek… knock. These are not passive verbs. They require intention, humility, and persistence. We are living in a generation that is constantly asking for more possessions, more recognition, more financial security, more influence, more validation.

Our requests are often shaped by abundance of things rather than depth of character. Yet Jesus redirects our asking toward the generous heart of God. In Lent, we are reminded that transformation begins not by demanding change from the world, but by submitting ourselves to God’s shaping grace.

We live in a season where relationships often feel transactional. Yet Jesus concludes this passage with what we call the Golden Rule: “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you.” This is not sentimental advice; it is a call to moral agency. Jesus places moral agency squarely in our hands. He does not permit us to wait for others to act rightly first; he commands us to initiate the good we desire to receive. The Golden Rule is therefore not passive exchange but proactive justice. It requires empathy, equity, and intentional action. To hear his teaching faithfully is to accept responsibility for shaping communities where dignity, fairness, and compassion are not requested but practiced. If we long for kindness, we must practice kindness. If we desire justice, we must enact justice. If we seek mercy, we must extend mercy.

To ask is to acknowledge our need for God’s heart. To seek is to align our vision with God’s reign. To knock is to participate in opening doors not just for ourselves, but for others.

Jesus is our model. He is the embodiment of self-giving love in a world ordered by power and transaction. But he does not remain merely an example to admire; he commissions us as witnesses. In a generation hungry for authenticity, the world we live in needs more than declarations, social media posts and performative displays. They need demonstration.

Lent presses the question: Where must I become the change I am praying for? In my family? In my church? In civic life? The witness of our faith is strengthened when our conduct mirrors Christ’s compassion. This is the Lenten journey: not only to believe in the light of Christ, but to become the light in the world in which we live.

prayer

Lord, Lord, Open Unto Me
Open unto me, light for my darkness, Open unto me, courage for my fear
Open unto me, hope for my despair, Open unto me, peace for my turmoil
Open unto me, joy for my sorrow, Open unto me, strength for my weakness
Open unto me, wisdom for my confusion, Open unto me, forgiveness for my sins
Open unto me, tenderness for my toughness, Open unto me, love for my hates
Open unto me, Thy Self for myself,
Lord, Lord, open unto me!
-Howard Thurman

Daily Lenten meditations each have a companion morning prayer video offered by the same clergy.  View the YouTube playlist to find this meditation’s companion video, or to watch others.