Ask rightly

Since Enlightenment, men have relied less and less on God. As our father, God should be happy with our achievements. We have grown up and become more independent. As children, we asked God what we needed, what we wanted. As adults, we think that we have the ability to satisfy our needs so we do not ask. We simply do what we fancy without truly satisfying our needs. Thus, we want to cheer up our spirits with wine. In the end, we feel more depressed and perhaps become addicted. We want to earn more money to lead a more comfortable life. In the end, we spend most of our time working, leaving very little time to enjoy life with our loved ones. We want to win the election so that we may serve the public. In the end, power corrupts our souls and we compromise our ideals and principles to cling to our position. How true is the words of St. James.
"You do not have, because you do not ask.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions" (James 4:2b-3).

Let's take a look at the first line which tells us at least two things. First of all, as Christians, we believe in God who is the source of all our good.  All that we have we receive from God. We do not have what God has not given us. Secondly, we have grown too arrogant that we do not ask God what we need. Of course, we have made a lot of technological advancements and we rely less and less on God for our material needs. Still, there are spiritual needs to be taken care of. These needs can only be satisfied by an infinite God. However, our technological achievements have blinded us with a materialistic outlook of existence. We care less and less of our spiritual life and consequently, an unspeakable void is created deep down our hearts and souls. This blindness makes us unable to ask God, the source of all our good. Simply put, we have forgotten God. People tell us that God is dead. We have no faith in God whom men have banished.

For those who still cling to God, they face a problem of a different level. They feel their needs and ask God for help. Yet, they do not receive and St. James explains that it is because they ask wrongly. How is it possible for a person to ask wrongly? If you are hungry, you ask for food. If you are thirsty, you ask for water. What else will you ask?
On the physiological level, probably we will not be wrong. However, when we move up to higher level such as psychological, inter-personal, social, political and even spiritual, we can be wrong because the path to hell is paved with good intentions.
We have a history. We have been raised up through a complex process in which many things can go wrong. If you were not raised by abusive, dysfunctional parents, you were lucky. See the many single-parents families around you. If your buddies did not bully, smoke or shoplift, you were lucky. See the many juvenile delinquent around you. If the organization you work in is not involved in any insider-tradings or corruption charges, you are lucky. See the many under-table dealings exposed by newspapers. Many of us are still struggling with our past wounds. However, we dare not to face them, to seek healing because we feel exposed, we feel insecure in front of the others most of whom are our rivals. In short, we do not know ourselves and thus our needs. We ask wrongly.
Then what is the right thing to ask for? The gospel reading today may shed us some light.

The disciples were arguing who was the greatest after Jesus had told them for the second time his imminent Passion (Mark 9:34). Here, the disciples were engaging at the sociopolitical level. Jesus told them that he would be going to Jerusalem to meet his death. How could the disciples still be fighting for the top job? Because in their mind, Jesus was the Messiah who would enter Jerusalem to chase away the Romans and build up the Messianic Kingdom. Of course, they cared about who would take up the top job. At this level, very few people will not get lost.
Of course, it is not wrong to be ambitious, to aim at the top job. Somewhere, somehow, somebody has to shoulder the responsibility. However, the occupant of the top job should possess the right attitude. Otherwise, many people, including himself, would suffer unnecessarily. In this occasion, Jesus taught his disciples "servant leadership". To be a leader, one must be the servant of all the people under his leadership (Mark 9:35).
Therefore, it is wrong to ask God to give you the top job to satisfy your lust for power, vainglory and privileges. Rather, we should ask God to give us the humility to serve the needy. The top job would land on your lap if it be God's will. Ask rightly and carefully because the path to hell is paved with good intentions.

Dear Lord, enlighten me to seek Your will. Amen.