Readings:
Exodus 17:8-13; 2 Timothy 3:13-14 4:2; Lk 18:1-18
Prayers
Are Always Answered
The readings of
today call on us to pray always without giving up. Since prayer puts us in the
eternal presence of God, we are never to give up; and never to give in to
discouragement. When the Israelites fought their battle with Amalek, Moses took
his stand on a great hill and, lifting up his hands, implored God’s aid for his
people (First reading). Moses had the support of his friends to assist him when
his hands were tired. Sometimes, we need the support of one another in our
prayers. The encouragement we give to others, and letting them know
that we pray for them, may create an enabling environment for them to cultivate
a healthy prayer life. In the Gospel, Jesus demonstrated with the
story of the unjust judge the need to persist in prayer until our father hears
us. The widow was not discouraged from going to the unjust judge until her
demands were met. God our father, is not an unjust judge, but a
merciful father. He knows the needs of his children and
will always provide for their needs, in His time, and in the manner best suited
for them.
I believe
that all our prayers are always answered. ‘No’ is also an
answer to a prayer. Jesus asked us to be persistent in prayer. He did not give
us any guarantee that our prayers will be answered in the way we want, and at
the time we want it. He asked for humility and faith but gave no
assurance for an instant answer. He promised a reward at the end of a persistent
prayer, not swift positive favors. He asked for commitment, not empty promises.
The faith and commitment requested of us come from bearing trials and
persecutions on account of the Word; while remaining hopeful and joyful,
knowing that God’s plans for us will come to pass in His time. It may
be delayed but will never be denied.
Prayer without
movement towards its realization is a waste of God’s time, and a depletion of
our energy. God will not do for us what we can and should do for
ourselves. If you pray for God’s favors, begin to move towards the
direction of your prayer. A student who did not prepare for a test should not
expect a successful outcome, just because he prayed for it. He should rather
study hard first, and then pray to remember what he studied on the day of the
test. Then God will crown his effort with success.
Apart from being
persistent in prayer, we should have faith. St. James tells us “But if any of
you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and
ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. But he should ask in faith, not
doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven
and tossed about by wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive
anything from the Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his
ways” (James 1: 5-8). Faith and trust in God are necessary ingredients
for prayer.
Know what to ask
for in prayer. The Holy Spirit is always our guide. Again St. James asks:
“Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not
from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not
possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You
do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you
ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (4:1-4). “If you then, who are
wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the
Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Luke 11:13:).
“But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Lk. 18:8). Will
we still be faithful if our prayers are not answered?
In 1Kings 3:5, God
said to Solomon, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” Solomon’s
answer was simple and straight to the point, “Give your servant, therefore, an
understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.”
(verse 9). The Lord was pleased with Solomon’s request, he gave him wisdom and
other things he did not ask for. Be specific in your request, do not ask for too
many intentions at one particular time of prayer. After all, God knows all your
needs. Therefore, seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness and He will
provide for all your other needs. (Matt. 6:33).
It is important to
always have a forgiving heart. Forgiveness is a condition for a fruitful
prayer. Jesus said, “When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you
have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your
transgressions? (Mk. 11:25-26). Isaiah said: “Lo, the hand of the
Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. Rather, it is your
crimes that separate you from your God. It is your sins that make him hide his
face so that he will not hear you” (59:1-2).
Our prayers are
sometimes answered progressively. When Jesus cured the blind man at Bethsaida,
the blind man did not see right-a-way but gradually. “Putting spittle on his
eyes he laid his hands on him and asked, ‘Do you see anything?’ he replied, ‘I
see people looking like trees and walking’” (Mk. 8:23-26). It was only on
laying his hands on his eyes a second time that the blind man saw clearly. We
must be patient and wait on the Lord. That is why Jesus reminded us in the ‘Our
Father’, to pray for the will of God to be done not ours. A wise saying has it
that “Prayer is not a device for getting our wills done through heaven, but a
desire that God’s will may be done on earth through us.” Pray and wait for
God’s time, not yours. Our prayers are always answered if we know how
to ask and what to ask for. Our God is not unjust, He is not unconcerned with
our problems, He is not as far away from us as we sometimes think. Rather,
we are the ones who, sometimes, turn away from Him and feel He delays in giving
immediate answer to our prayer. And whether we receive a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’
answer, knowing that all prayers are answered, remember to always return to the
Lord with thanks. If not, he will ask: “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where
are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
I want to conclude
this reflection with “The Blessings of Unanswered Prayers” by an unknown
confederate soldier:
· I
asked for strength that I might achieve; I was made weak that I might learn
humbly to obey.
· I
asked for health that I might do greater things; I was given infirmity that I
might do better things.
· I
asked for riches that I might be happy; I was given poverty that I might be
wise.
· I
asked for power that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness that
I might feel the need of God.
· I
asked for all things that I might enjoy life; I was given life that I might
enjoy all things.
· I
got nothing that I had asked for; but everything that I had hoped for.
· Almost
despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered; I am, among all men most
richly blessed.
Questions to ponder:
1. Do you feel
that your prayers are always answered?
2. Do you have
a healthy prayer life?
3. Do you set
aside a time for prayer each day?
4. Or are you
too busy to pray?
“Prayer does not change God, but it
changes him who prays”
- Soren Kierkegaad
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