Does God bless anyone when we ask Him?

Father Ignatius went to the doctor's for his usual check-up. His doctor was not there as he was on holiday, so he was seen by a new young doctor who was there as a substitute. 

After the check-up was over and all was well, as he was leaving, the priest thanked the doctor and said the usual "God bless!"

To his surprise, the doctor replied, "God does not exist!"

Father Ignatius hesitated for a split-second and then said, "May He bless you all the same!"

The doctor would not let go, he said calmly, "How can He bless me if He does not exist?"

The priest smiled and walked away without saying a word.

As he walked home to Parish House, Father Ignatius pondered that sometimes in life we meet up with an immovable object. There is no point in exerting ourselves trying to move it. It is wasted effort if it is immovable.

It was obvious that the young doctor was set in his ways. He was sure that God did not exist and would not waste an opportunity to prove his point. The mere words "God bless" to him were just like waving a red rag to a bull. It was a challenge not to be missed. It was pointless debating the issue.

As he approached St Vincent Church and his house, Father Ignatius wondered, "Does God bless anyone when we ask Him? What is a blessing anyway?" he asked himself.

"It is to ask God to look favourably on someone," he concluded. And in this particular case, it is also asking God to have mercy on this young misguided man. Praying that he might, perhaps, with God's grace, meet up with an opportunity to change his mind.

"Our greatest gift to such people is to pray for them," he remarked silently as he entered home.

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