by Father William R. Dulaney
Even though you’re not perfect, I hope you think of yourself as a good person.
Isn’t it ironic many good people are apprehensive or filled with frustration and guilt because of prayer – something we hope will strengthen us and bring us peace?
Throughout my priesthood, I’ve been approached by devout Catholics who have said, in one way or another, “Father, I’m upset. I’ve been having a hard time praying lately,” or “Father, I can’t remember the last time I felt good about praying; my prayers don’t seem to be helping me. What can I do?”
I reply that such experiences are normal – not a sign that one’s faith in or relationship with the Lord is in jeopardy. I urge these people to keep praying and realize that when we pray, God knows we are taking time to communicate with Him. He appreciates our efforts, understands we might have difficulty in praying for any number of reasons and never stops loving us. Attempting to pray and not achieving the results expected is better than not praying at all.
Citing St. Therese of Lisieux, the Catechism of the Catholic Church describes prayer as the raising of one’s mind and heart to God and says God, in His love for us, takes the initiative in inviting us to pray. When we respond to His invitation, we enter into a relationship with Him, which opens our hearts to conversion.
Prayer can dispose us to understand God’s will. In His Divine love, God wills the salvation of all people; He wills His followers to proclaim His message of love and wants all people to heed this message so the world will be a better place.
Today’s Scriptures leave no doubt that prayer, and the conversion it can bring, is essential for the effective proclamation of the Gospel, the transformation of the world and the salvation of souls. They implore us to persevere in our resolve to pray and do good.
The passage from Exodus indicates the Israelites’ victory over the evil Amalekite enemy depends on Moses’ perseverance in prayer and teaches us there is no respite in our own spiritual battle against evil.
Paul exhorts us to remain faithful to what we believe, urging us to be persistent and convincing in proclaiming Christ’s teachings to others.
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus recounts how a helpless widow’s pleas motivate an indifferent judge to render a decision in her favor. He then challenges His disciples as He asks: “Will not God then secure the rights of His chosen ones who call out to Him day and night?” The bond we establish with Jesus when we pray will help us remain faithful to the tasks He gives us.
To appreciate today’s texts even more, we do well to consider some thoughts on prayer presented by the late Pope John Paul II in “Crossing the Threshold of Hope.” When asked by the book’s editor, Vittorio Messori how he is able to bear the weight of the papacy, the pope responded, “Your question concerns prayer; you are asking the Pope how he prays.”
John Paul II said, “The subject of the Pope’s prayer is … the joy and the hope, the grief and the anguish of the people of our time. Because the Pope is a witness of Christ and a minister of the Good News, he is a man of hope, a man of the fundamental affirmation of the value of existence, the value of creation and of hope in the future of life.
“The Pope, like every Christian, must be keenly aware of the dangers to which man is subject in the world. … The awareness of these dangers does not generate pessimism, but rather encourages the struggle for the victory of good. It is precisely in this struggle for the victory of good in man that the need for prayer arises.”
Today’s readings, the Catechism and John Paul’s reflections on prayer help us to realize no matter how imperfect or filled with distractions our prayers may be, they are important for our spiritual growth and development.[hr]
Readings for the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Exodus 17: 8-13
Psalm 121: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:2
Luke 18: 1-8[hr]
Father William R. Dulaney, parochial vicar at St. Gregory the Great parish, Bellerose, is an adjunct spiritual director at Cathedral Prep and Seminary, Elmhurst, and part-time chaplain at St. Edmund Prep, Sheepshead Bay.