The power of prayer!  

How and when do you rely on the power of prayer in your discipleship? 

How and when do you turn to others, asking them to lift you in prayer?

How and when do you lift up others, presenting them to God in heartfelt, trusting, faithful prayer?

My prayer is that your answer to the above questions, particularly you who are reading this column in the Church of St. Mary newsletter e-blast this August day, in one word would be DAILY! In another word – OFTEN. And another word – NOW.

Prayer is a guiding, sustaining and enlivening force in my life. I am blessed by my mother who prays for me, her family and loved ones every morning. (Her prayer book is well prayed and worn.) I have friends and relationships with Christians around the world that remember me as well as my intentions. I have Dominican Sister friends that are praying at their Mother House in MI and in retreat centers in NJ. I pray that you also have loved ones, family and friends that remember you in their prayers each day. 

  “Does God answer our prayers?”  It can sometimes seem that perhaps God does not.  

In truth, God always answers our prayers – in God’s time and in God’s way.  This truth is revealed and expressed in many ways throughout the many years of our rich faith tradition. It may not be when or what we think we need and want, yet God hears, God cares, and God sees from a perspective far beyond what we can.  Sometimes God’s answer is yes, and now.  Sometimes God’s answer is not yet.  This one calls for patience.  The real ouch is when God seems to be saying, “I have a better plan in mind for you”.   While praying, or being prayed for, how deep is my faith and my trust, and am I open to the response God chooses to give?

William Barry, SJ in his book “Letting God Come Close” wrote: “Prayers is a matter of relationship. Intimacy is the basic issue, not answers to problems or resolutions “to be better.” Many of life’s problems and challenges have no answers; we can only live with and through them. Problems and challenges, however, can be faced and lived through with more peace and resilience if people know that they are not alone. A man’s wife will not return from the dead, but the pain is more bearable when he has poured out his sorrow, his anger, and his despair to God and has experienced God’s intimate presence.”

May we continue to be people of prayer. May we always include others in our prayers to God. May family, friends and others always know that our prayers are offered for them, each and every day.

In one of the Masses used for celebrating the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Prayer over the Offerings I used at Mass this past week beautifully read: “Receive, O Lord, we ask, the prayers of your people with the sacrificial offerings, that, through the intercession of Blessed Mary, Mother of your Son, no petition go unanswered, no request made in vain. Through Christ our Lord.” AMEN.

Congratulations to our children who received their 1st Holy Communion on Saturday, August 8th. May these first communicants and their families be nourished in Word and Sacrament regularly throughout their lives. 

God bless you with a prayerful heart this day.