However, amid this diligent search for the Kingdom of Heaven, remember that you cannot accomplish this solely through your own efforts; you must rely on God’s assistance. Thus, pray, ask, and it will be granted to you. Just as those who seek earnestly find what they are looking for, and those who knock persistently will have doors opened to them, similarly, he who asks consistently will receive. Is there anyone among you who, when his son requests bread, would give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish, would give him a serpent? Therefore, if you, despite being sinful, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father provide good things to those who seek Him? Many complain against God when they do not receive their requests immediately, and this discontent can lead to either despair or, even worse, disbelief. Chrysostom remarked that if you don’t receive what you ask for right away, do not lose heart. Christ spoke of knocking to indicate that if the door does not open quickly, you must wait. If you continually ask God, you shall receive what you seek, even if it does not come right away; you will undoubtedly receive it. This is why the door may seem locked, to encourage your persistence; that’s why your requests do not always get an immediate response. Therefore, keep asking, and you shall surely obtain. Yet you might wonder, what if I ask and do not receive? To address this concern, the Savior shares a parable, highlighting not just what to ask for, but also how to ask. Is there anyone among you who, when his son requests bread, would respond with a stone? If you do not receive, it may be because you are asking for something worthless. Being a child does not automatically grant you everything; rather, it may be the reason you fail to receive, as you seek things that lack utility. Avoid asking for material things; instead, ask for everything that pertains to the spirit, and you will certainly receive. You may question, why do I not receive even when I seek spiritual things? Perhaps because you are not knocking diligently enough, or you have rendered yourself unworthy to receive what you are asking for, or perhaps you have ceased your requests too soon. You may inquire further, why did the Savior not specify what you should ask for? He has, in fact, already addressed this (St. John Chrysostom, Conversations on the Gospel of Matthew, 23). He stated: Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (those of the earth) will be added to you (Matthew 6:33). But do we really need to view all earthly matters as mere stones not worthy of petition to our Heavenly Father? Did not Christ teach us to pray for our daily bread? Isn't this daily bread essential for sustaining human life, which St. John Chrysostom says we should not seek? After all, Jesus Himself prayed for and healed the sick, suggesting that it is indeed valid to seek health and recovery from ailments. Since physical health is necessary for life, it is as truly temporal a good as food, drink, clothing, and shelter. It must be acknowledged, then, that Christ did not prohibit us from asking God for necessary earthly or temporal goods when He instructed us to pray for our daily bread. However, when He said, “Ask, and it shall be given to you,” He specifically referred to the goods that lead to eternal life, for in this exhortation, He assured His followers and listeners of divine assistance in adhering to His commandments and in carrying the yoke He imposed upon them. Ultimately, this yoke is far lighter than it may initially appear. All of Christ’s commandments and His yoke culminate in His concluding exhortation: “In all things, as you would that men should do unto you, so do ye also unto them.”
THEOSIS