As we celebrate the Memorial of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, today's Gospel reiterates the teaching of Jesus about the importance of prayer. It is through persistence in our prayers that leads us to achieve the things we prayed for. We should untiringly utter our petitions to God just as the Blessed Virgin intercedes for us when we pray the rosary.

When I was a kid, our family routine was to pray the Holy Rosary every six o'clock in the evening. We must abandon everything that we were doing to participate in the prayer time. On one occasion, while we were praying the rosary, I prayed for a new coloring book. Our catechist told us that God would give us the things we asked if we believed. Hence, I prayed daily until my mother decided to buy me a coloring book.

Now that I am in the seminary formation, I constantly feel the generosity of the Lord through my brother-seminarians. Sharing is one of the important practices being observed in the seminary. I only brought essential things when I entered the seminary. I was worried because my clothes were only good for a week and a half. True enough, when we ask, it will be given to us. I never felt that I was lacking anything because of the generosity of my batch mates and higher-year brothers. All I need to do is to ask.

With all the blessings I have been receiving, the Gospel challenges me to do two things. First, my readiness to extend my hands to others. It is God's generosity that has brought me here, and I am responsible for sharing it with others. Second, I have to pray unceasingly through the help of the Blessed Mother.

By: Sem. Bryan S. Valenzuela

Today's Gospel

Lk 11:5-13

Jesus said to his disciples:
"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?"