The Readings and Psalm, as well as the prayers of the Eucharistic Liturgy today have a profound message on Prayer, as an essential accompaniment in our human journey towards God. Prayer brings us into conscious attention to the incompleteness in us, so that our awareness can allow God to enter in our lives. True Prayer as seen in Queen Esther's prayer is a confrontation with the emptiness I am in, this transforms me to the mind of God. We don't go to Prayer to coax God to make our lives a 'Disneyland' of possibilities or to get points off our sins. We ask, seek, and knock knowing that God listens! Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once said (12/9/12): 'there is no such thing as superfluous or useless prayer. No prayer is lost! Our prayers are the most effective response to senseless violence! They strengthen our daily commitment to goodness. The power of God makes our weakness strong.' We ask, seek, knock to discern events with faith so as to see the reality with the eyes of God! Thus Christians can never be pessimists. Our prayer educates us to see the signs of God, become aware of his presence, so that we become signs of hope!