FAITH: WHAT MATTERS IN PRAYERS
(Luke 18:1-8)
With the parable of the
unrighteous Judge and the widow, Jesus taught His disciples the need to pray
always and never lose heart. The woman never relented until the judge gave her
attention. Thus, Jesus calls on us all to keep on calling on God night and day
for God will not fail to vindicate us.
Meanwhile, it is not just about
praying or pretending to be at prayers. Faith matters a lot. It is not just a
case whereby we only remember God when we want to use Him to achieve our
selfish goals, like the politicians who automatically become Churchmen during
campaigns but when they win, they keep God aside.
God should not be used in a
selfish way. Religion should not be wrongly manipulated. Prayers and spiritual
matters should never be used to deceive people. Worshipping God should go
beyond workability. A life of prayer that is at the same time a life of faith
is seen in the man who believes in pleasing God and doing his best and, then,
sees every other thing happening around as the will of God.
Relationship with God transcends
merely what human eyes see. It will indeed be a fallacy of reductionism when we
think that God will stop being God to us because what we asked Him or what we
want Him to do for us at a particular time was not done in our way. Prayer
should have to do with docility to the will of God.
We should pray with our whole
mind and also work with our strength under the influence of divine grace. But
let our disposition be to give our whole fiat like Mary: "Let it be done
to me according to your will.”
That is faith. It is what God
looks at. Yes! that supernatural gift by which we believe in whatever God has
revealed. God comes at the last day to see faith in the hearts that prayed to
Him here on earth.
Let your faith in God motivate
you to be a man of prayers. This faith will make your prayers to go beyond mere
lip service to become alive. You will start living what you're praying, and
your religious duties will be more meaningful. May Jesus find us always praying
and living our lives in faith.
Let us Pray
Strengthen our faith O Lord to
pray in ways pleasing to you. Make our faith strong enough that we may realize
that with you we are more than conquerors. Grant the prayers we make to You in
faith through Christ our Lord. Amen
God bless your Saturday (32nd
Week, Ordinary Time)
Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh
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