February 26 - Ask and You Shall Receive

Thursday of the First Week of Lent

Today's Readings

• Esther C.12, 14-16, 23-25
• Psalm 138
• Matthew 7.7-12

Today's Reflection

Enter the old part of the U-M Museum of Art from State Street, turn to the first exhibit room on your left, and you can’t miss a mammoth seventeenth-century Italian painting of Queen Esther, the central figure in today’s Old Testament reading. Esther is taking her life in her hands to approach her husband, King Ahasuerus of Persia, to plead for her people (Esther 5:1-5).

The Jews in Persia were threatened by a vicious court official, and the king did not know Esther was Jewish. The punishment for entering the king’s presence uninvited was death—unless the king stuck out his scepter, indicating that the intrusion was okay with him. The painting shows the king extending his scepter and looking pleased to see Esther, but a bit late: overcome with fear over how he might react, she has fainted into the arms of her maids. According to the biblical story, she does eventually make her request, and King Ahasuerus sees to it that the Jews are vindicated.

 Paul S.