As our hearts are tested; let us Pray!

As our hearts are tested; Let us Pray!

Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response on our part.  It always presupposes effort.  The great figures of prayer of the Old Covenant before Christ, as well as the Mother of God, the saints, and he himself, all teach us this; prayer is a battle.  Against whom?  Against ourselves and against the wiles of the tempter who does all he can to turn man away from prayer, away from union with God.  We pray as we live, because we live as we pray.  If we do not want to act habitually according to the Spirit of Christ, neither can we pray habitually in his name.  The “spiritual battle” of the Christian’s new life is inseparable from the battle of prayer.  (CCC 2725).

There often are moments when a call from a relative or close friend may disturb our peace with news that someone we both are close with is in need of prayer.  It may be an illness that promises a severe outcome or one of preparing for the death of that loved one.  In either case our sense of need for someone else other than ourselves puts us on a watch of concern, allowing the expression of reaching out to God with hope and solace for the ill person.  

Perhaps you or I have been the one as a recipient of prayer from close friends or relatives.  Maybe it never occurred that we might just be on our deathbed, but find out later, after a recovery, that many rosaries and other quests to Christ were on their minds and show God we matter to them.  

Just recently a daughter called and informed us our great-grandson was taken to the Children’s Hospital In Pittsburgh with a diagnosis of Meningitis.  He is nine years old and the one that I wrote about God telling me he was calling him to the priesthood.  Of course my response with a rosary was not because of that, but placing his outcome on God is the only thing to do.  It reminded me of my bout with Covid-19 in 2020 and learning that I was closer to death than I even knew.  Upon learning that many rosaries were being said for my recovery, I asked the Blessed Mother to use them for my wife, who also had a small touch of Covid herself.  My point is as much as I appreciated the prayers for my recovery I used those efforts to go to one I love

This is what prayer can become; a sharing of God’s answer to our petitions for a return to the health of another instead of ourselves.  

Filial trust is tested - it proves itself - in tribulation.  The principal difficulty concerns the prayer of petition, for oneself or for others in intercession.  Some even stop praying because they think their petition is not heard.  Here two questions should be asked:  Why do we think our petition has not been heard?  How is our prayer heard,  how is it efficacious?  (CCC 2734).

The revelation of prayer in the economy of salvation teaches us that faith rests on God’s action in history.  Our filial trust is enkindled by his supreme act:  the Passion and Resurrection of his Son.  Christian prayer is cooperation with his providence, his plan of love for men.  (CCC 2738).

We can never cease to call on God when the needs are greater than ourselves.  But, we shouldn’t wait until a crisis erupts causing a disruption in the seeming peaceful moments of life.  Besides illnesses or severe traumas, thanksgiving for blessings received and for those we anticipate are coming as well.  A former pastor once mentioned at Mass that two baskets were received during the Offertory;  The one with petitions was overflowing, the one with thanksgiving was usually empty.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  (1 Thes 5: 16 - 17).

Ralph B. Hathaway