Esther 4C:12
Then she prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, saying: "My Lord, you alone are our King. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you.
Today's reading comes from the Book of Esther, in her prayer to God which is found in the Greek translations. Esther, a Jewish girl, favor with the king, who is Persian. The King doesn't know that Esther is Jewish. Esther uncovers a plot by one of the king's closest associates to have all of the Jews killed. Due to the customs of the day, Esther could not approach the king and inform him of this, otherwise she may be killed. She has nowhere to turn but to God. She prays the prayer we read today in the first reading. She feel s all alone, she is desperate and scared.
We have all felt this way at one time or another. Whether it's an illness, trouble at work or home, or a feeling of doom, we have all been in this situation. We ask God for answers, for a sign, for direction. God always hears our prayers and in fact answers them. They may not always be what WE want, but in a roundabout way, God gives us what we need. Yes it can be frustrating at times, and even make us angry. Sometimes people become so angry that they turn away from God. This is a temptation we all must fight. We must learn to let God control all of our actions and be open to his will, not our own. Pray today for the wisdom to accept what God presents to us in our daily walk, from the thrills of success to the opportunities for growth.
