Prayer

PRAYER

Cl. Mario D’Couto SDB

            Prayer is perhaps the most common thing that is found everywhere and yet it can also become the most uncommon thing. It is perhaps the easiest thing to do and yet it can at times be the hardest thing to do. This is obviously one of the many paradoxes in life and yet if we want to make great strides in our spiritual journey then prayer is a must.

            How does one define prayer? We can define prayer in a number of ways but perhaps the simplest definition we can give about prayer is that prayer is talking to God. To make our prayer more meaningful, there are a few things we should be clear about when it comes to prayer,

1.     For a long time and even today (in some places), God Almighty has always been presented as a stern looking person waiting to catch someone. Whenever we see any picture of Jesus, He is always presented as a serious – looking person. Very few pictures portray a ‘smiling’ Jesus. But is God like that? I guess not. There is no doubt that Sacred Scripture does not speak much about it but that does not in the least diminish the fact that Christ Jesus was not humorous at all. The fact that He was fully human (besides His divine nature) says it all; for human as He was, it is but obvious that He did express a wide range of emotions and so we can be as candid as possible when we speak to Our  Lord who is our best friend, guide, counselor, healer and Father.

2.     It sometimes happens that when the topic about prayer comes up, many think about prayer as a series of petitions. Prayers of petitions are good but ultimately God knows what is best for us. Sometimes when our prayers are not answered, it leads to frustration. I guess the best form of prayer is not so much the prayer of petition (which is valid in itself) but a prayer of acceptance. It is about asking the Lord to give us the strength to cope with those times when things don’t go our way. The best form of prayer that I have seen is the prayer which Jesus makes in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Father let this cup of suffering pass away; yet not My will but Your will be done.” (Matthew 26:39) This, I guess, should be the kind of prayer that each of us should make, for when God does not answer one’s prayers, it means that He has something else in store for that person. Besides, God does not shut one door but rather He opens another one.

3.     Finally, the above two points mentioned would be possible only if we have deep faith and trust in God. Yes, dear friends, it may sound jarring but faith in God is what will take us forward in our spiritual journey. It could happen that at times we may not find meaning in our prayer life. It could also happen that sometimes a person may go through a faith crisis. Yet, we still need to hold on. It is like the dark night of the soul which St. John of the Cross speaks about. Even a person like Mother Teresa experienced it for a long time.
           
When our faith in God is firm, then even if there may be trials and tribulations, it is quite unlikely that we would fall. Jesus Himself explains in the Gospels when He gives the analogy of the two builders where one built his house on sand and the other built his house on solid ground. (Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:47-49) 

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