By Fr. Glenn Jones:
Came down with COVID the other day – the “Mack truck” variant, as in “hit by a … ”. No fun whatever. We men like to think ourselves as rough and tough (our egos tending to revolve around our virility and strength), but even tiny little microscopic “bugs” can drive us to our knees.
But there are a lot of “viruses” apart from physical sickness, even to the point of manifesting themselves IN physical illness. We want to control every facet of our lives, often becoming grouchy and irate when things don’t go our way, or despondent when the unexpected occurs. In some manner, then, we can be the cause of our own illness—our own worst enemy via arrogance, pride, insistent, having unrealistic expectations, etc.
When times and circumstances arise beyond our control, the Christian finds much solace in prayer—its benefits magnified greatly if established in regularity. Jesus himself gives us the model for this, the Gospels noting that He would often go off by Himself to pray to the Father, even spending all night in prayer at times.
As one might expect, the Bible is replete with examples of the power of prayer. Particularly notable Exodus examples are Moses’ selfless and oft-repeated prayers to God to spare His rebellious, ungrateful people—a righteous man’s prayer interceding for thousands. Those episodes remind us: “… pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.” (James 5:16), and “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry.” (Psalm 34:15)
Yet examples of Old Testament prayer are but faint foreshadowings of Jesus’ teaching and example. As mentioned above, He often went by Himself to pray—communing with the Father in prayer and presence, an example that any wise Christian will emulate. Those who love rejoice in even the mere presence of the beloved; no word need be spoken. As goes a story of an elderly man who tended to spend many hours in church in prayer, and people asked him what he says to God. “Not much; I just look at Him, and He looks at me.” Such “prayer of mere presence” can allay anxieties—calm the waters—better than any medication.
From prayer God grants grace for stronger faith, strength in temptation, and endurance in hardships.
We might recall the example of the Israelites’ battle with the Amalekites: “As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight. Moses’ hands, however, grew tired; so … Aaron and Hur supported his hands … so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” (Exodus 17:11-12) The Israelites began to lose their battle when Moses’ hands wearied and fell from prayer.
Likewise, we begin to lose our battles when our hands drop away from prayer. But the episode above also reminds the Christian that ours is a personal yet also a community faith, and we should seek—often need—mutual support, especially in times of tribulation. Thus we read elsewhere: “… let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) And we take strength in the parable of the unrighteous judge with the persistent petitioner: “For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While … I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her…’ … Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?” (Luke 18:4-6).
Now, some think that prayer makes them look “weak” or “unmanly”, especially young men. Take heart that countless popes and bishops, kings and presidents, generals and admirals, soldiers and scientists—and certainly all saints—have depended upon prayer. After all, can a Christian become a saint without prayer? Does one become a physicist by avoiding physics, or a mathematician by neglecting mathematics? Then how can we get to know God more fully if we never spend time with Him and His Word?
Prayer is the tamer of our often unruly passions, because through prayer comes God’s grace, and the determination and strength to remain with Him in all things. And prayer is always effective, even if its effects are not immediately apparent. For just as a parent may wisely refuse a child’s presumptive request, so does God at times refuse ours. Like Jesus, we should simply condition our prayers with: “… not my will, but Yours be done.” That’s why in the Lord’s Prayer of Jesus we say: “THY will be done,” because in HIS will all can be well, regardless of what else we may have to endure. God comforts us with the assurance: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15)
Jesus says: “Ask and you shall receive…” … not perhaps what you wanted, but what God knows you need. “Seek and you shall find…” … maybe not the easy way which you wanted, but a harder way which makes you stronger. “Knock, and it will be opened for you…” …maybe not the door at which you were standing, but rather a door further down your road, where new courage and grace to continue your faith journey await.
So … when the Lord comes, will He find faith on earth? (Luke 18:8) Shout to Heaven and to earth: “Yes!! He will find it in ME!”
Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.
