Lent 1, Thursday – Esther 4:17 k.l-m.r-u; Ps 137:1-3,7-8; Matthew 7:7-12

A key to unlocking the wisdom in today’s readings can be found in the timeless advice of Abba Pambo, one of the revered desert fathers. He instructed his disciples with these profound words: “Don’t let the past crush you, or the future paralyse you. Live in the present—it is a gift to your life and to your calling.” These words echo with truth, urging us to see the present moment as both a treasure and an invitation to faith-filled action.

With this perspective, we can delve into Esther’s courageous prayer and Christ’s teaching to His disciples, drawing strength and guidance for our own lives. For Esther and her people, the weight of sin—deep remorse for the past – and the looming shadow of annihilation presented an almost insurmountable challenge. On one side lay the crushing burden of guilt; on the other, an ominous future filled with dread. The natural human response might have been despair or paralysis – a temptation to sit idle and watch fate unfold.

But God’s way is always different, always higher. His call to us is not to surrender to passive waiting but to embrace the present moment with trust and courage. Esther does just that. Her faith transforms her fear into boldness; she accepts the challenge before her and rises to meet it with resolute commitment. In this faith-filled engagement, she models true discipleship, showing us that trusting in God often means stepping forward even if the path seems unclear.

Salvation doesn’t come through passivity; it comes through faith in action. The path forward is rarely found sitting idly by – it lies beyond the horizon, on roads yet untrodden, behind doors yet to be opened. Esther’s story reminds us that sometimes we must knock on closed doors and seek courageously in the wilderness. For it is not within easy reach, not placed conveniently at our doorstep, that God’s gifts lie. His providence meets us where faith and action converge, knowing full well what we need before we even ask.

So, let us take today’s invitation to heart. Let us live in the present – not crushed by the past or paralysed by fear of the future – and embrace each moment as an opportunity to act in faith. For in these moments we discover that trust in God is the bridge between challenge and victory, the path that leads to grace.

“Let’s not be anxious
because we have a good God
who has everything in hand
down to the smallest detail.” Br. Albert Chmielowski