Reflection on Prayer
April 27, 2023 - Thursday, Third Week of Easter
Psalm 66:8-9, 16-17, 20
Psalm 66 which we also reflected upon yesterday ends with this praise of God on the lips of the psalmist: “Blessed be God who refused me not my prayer or his kindness!” (Ps 66:20). Saint John of Damascus defines prayer as “the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God”. But even despite such a precise definition prayer remains a mystery of faith, a miracle, and a gift.
It surprises me that our Catechism begins its teaching on prayer with the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. In Jesus’ request, “Give me a drink” (John 4:7), and the woman’s statement “Give me this water” (John 4:15), the Church sees the encounter between God’s longing for us and our longing for God (see CCC, 2560-61). And so in Jesus’ statement, “if you knew the gift of God”, we are called to discover the value of prayer in our lives. If we only knew the importance of prayer, we would do everything to learn how to pray and practice prayer unceasingly.
The psalmist testifies that God did not refuse his prayer but today one hears Catholics complaining that God did not answer their prayers. The Catechism asks an interesting question: “From which position do we speak when we pray? From the height of our pride and will or "out of the depths" of a humble and contrite heart?” (CCC, 2559). The Bible teaches us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This fear is understood as a deep respect for God and His commandments. It leads to an attitude of humility. Thus, we should approach God in our prayer with respect and humility.
Aside from humility, we also need trust and perseverance in prayer. But that also presents a problem for us who trust only in ourselves and who are impatient. Some do not pray because they do not believe that God hears the prayers of individual people. Others after a few attempts at prayer give up because their prayers were not answered immediately. Evagrius Ponticus, the fourth-century Christian monk, wrote in his treatise on prayer these words: “Do not be troubled if you do not immediately receive from God what you ask him; for he desires to do something even greater for you, while you cling to him in prayer”. It is worth pausing and reflect upon them.
We have to realise that prayer is a necessity in our lives. Prayer connects us to our God, the source of our life, energy, and strength. Without Him we cannot do anything (see John 15:5). Moreover, prayer and Christian life are inseparable. As the Catechism puts it: “We pray as we live, because we live as we pray” (CCC, 2725).
Let me end this reflection with the encouraging words of Saint John Chrysostom about prayer: “Nothing is equal to prayer; for what is impossible it makes possible, what is difficult, easy. . . . For it is impossible, utterly impossible, for the man who prays eagerly and invokes God ceaselessly ever to sin”.