February 12th 2012

Continuing in our thoughts about prayer, let us remember that Jesus taught us to pray “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.”  Ultimately all we should ask for is just that, the coming of his kingdom. The wonderful thing is that we can add beginning with me. We can actually be part of his glorious kingdom. This also should be our ultimate goal as we pray for our loved ones, even our wayward ones.

When St. Paul prayed for the people in the church at Ephesus, the key words were that they might be given a spirit of wisdom and revelation as they come to know the Father and the hope to which he has called them. Paul could have asked that they have good health and prosper, become leaders in the community etc. There would be nothing wrong with that. But he knew that there was far more awaiting them – a place in the Father’s kingdom. We can ask for anything we feel we need but as Jesus said, “the Father knows you have needed these things”. A child walking with a parent does not keep asking for protection and guidance. They are happy to walk confidently, holding a strong loving hand.  Prayer is not just asking him. It is being with him.

The most agonizing prayer in history came from the Garden of Gesthemane when Jesus begged that the suffering he was facing might be taken from him. Almost in the same breath, he capitulates with “nevertheless, thy will be done” Through the following hours of humiliation and suffering, he was upheld by his Father. St. Matthew and St. Mark’s gospels record his cry from the cross “why have you forsaken me”. Had he briefly lost his grasp of his Father’s hand? Down the years, scholars have pondered this. Then St. Luke records his words “Father into your hands I commend my spirit”. Those hands were always there.

February 5th 2012

This week I want to write about prayer. I am torn by a feeling of inadequacy and the knowledge that there is so much to say. To whom do I turn? Without any doubt to Jesus who taught us in so many ways. I look particularly to when he responded to the disciples’ request for teaching on prayer. They had learned to pray from childhood at home and in the synagogue, but they saw in Jesus’ prayer, something unique, something powerful. In Matthew 6: 5 following and Luke 11: 1 following, we can share some of the teaching he gave to his followers. First of all he warned them against making a show of their prayers, going to a public place and proclaiming to God in a loud voice in order to receive honour. Instead, he instructed them to go into their room and shut the door behind them in order to pray in private.

Today the world has turned around. How many say grace in a public restaurant? How many fear people’s scorn? How much time do we spend alone with our heavenly Father? The important thing is for us to humbly acknowledge him and ask his forgiveness for turning away from him. We are assured of being accepted by him if we also forgive others. Daily we ask for physical sustenance. Do we ask for those who lack the necessities of life? We ask to be kept safe from evil. We are assured that our prayers will be answered. The hardest thing for us to accept is the fact that the answer is not always the one we want. Often it is “yes” but it can be “wait” and also it can be “no”. This does not mean that our prayer is in vain. In prayer, we have been with him and we have been gathered into his arms.

January 29nd 2012

There is a strong tendency in all of us to think of our faith as something rooted in the past. We read our Bible as it recounts the story of God’s interaction down the ages. We learn our Father the creator of the earth, progressed through each new stage and how every tree and plant produced seed so that it would renew itself. We also read the words of the Lord as he continually looked at what he made and said “It is good”.

Then God created human beings in his own image, male and female he created them. God is Love and therefore humans are too are created to love him. However, that love must be freely given. Thus God gave each one of us free will to love him. Alas down the ages, men and women have chosen not to love him but to ignore him and follow what entices them.

Over and over again, God has reached out to us through his faithful followers, a long line of prophets, priests, martyrs and humble followers. They were his living seed through whom he renewed his church. Are we living seeds or empty pots? We must renew ourselves and renew the church.

Finally God came into the world through his Son Jesus Christ. Through him and his death and resurrection we are renewed. By the power of his holy spirit, let us daily renew our lives in prayer and love, tuned to his will.

Let us be a people who are renewed and alive
Let us be a resurrection people