Matthew 7:7-11

Gathered on the hillside with the disciples, Jesus began to teach them: 

Ask, and it will be given you; search and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 

Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! 

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

Today, as we gather for our End-of-Year Thanksgiving Mass, we pause to look back with gratitude — for the laughter, the friendships, the lessons learned and even the challenges faced. We also look ahead with hope, ready for what lies beyond Year 9, trusting that God walks with us into the future. 

In the Gospel we just heard, Jesus says something simple but deeply powerful: 
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” These words remind us that our relationship with God is active. God doesn’t want us to sit back and wait for life to happen — He invites us to ask, seek, and knock. 
To ask is to pray with trust. 
To seek is to search with faith. 
To knock is to act with courage. 

Throughout this school year, each of you has been doing just that. 
You’ve asked for help — maybe from teachers when things got tough or from friends when you felt unsure. You’ve sought out meaning — trying to understand who you are and who God is calling you to be. And you’ve knocked on new doors — in your learning, your friendships, your talents and your faith. 

Sometimes, those doors opened easily. Other times, it might have felt like God was silent or that what you asked for didn’t come. But the Gospel reminds us: God always gives good gifts. Even when things don’t turn out the way we expect, God is still working for our good — shaping us, strengthening us, preparing us. Jesus also gives us a guide for living: 
“In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you.” That’s the “Golden Rule” and it’s at the heart of what it means to live as a Christian and as a Chisholm student. It means treating one another with kindness, respect and compassion — the same way we hope others will treat us. It’s what makes our community strong and full of life. 

So, as we finish this year, let’s take a moment to give thanks: 
For the teachers who have guided you, the friends who have supported you and the family who has believed in you. 
For the times you succeeded — and the times you struggled but kept going. 
And above all, let’s give thanks to God, who has been walking beside you every step of the way, opening doors and giving you good gifts — sometimes in ways you might not have noticed yet. 

As you move into Year 10, keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. God’s plans for you are greater than you can imagine. Trust that He will always give you what you truly need — because you are His beloved children. May your hearts be full of gratitude, your minds open to learning and your spirits ready for the next chapter. And may you always remember: When you ask, seek and knock with faith, God will open the door. 

Fr Ziggy Wloczek
College Chaplain