Weekly THIS AND THAT for March 29, 2009: Learning to Pray Without Ceasing

This and That:
Learning to Pray Without Ceasing


On March 20, we had our 5th Lenten Family Friday in our series entitled “In the Footsteps of Saint Paul.” This session focused on Paul’s understanding of Learning to Pray Without Ceasing.


What is Prayer?

We began with a consideration of prayer as a relationship with Someone. In relationships, we speak or we are simply present. To Whom am I speaking in prayer – Father, Mother, Creator, Savior, Spirit, Lord, Friend, Teacher, Healer…?
To Whom am I present?


The Catechism of the Catholic Church

In the Catechism, a relationship of prayer is described as:
➢ Gift: begins with God reaching out to human beings
➢ Covenant: entering into communion with the One who brought us into being
➢ Communion: Divine interaction with God in which the two become one.


Paul’s Teaching on Prayer

From Paul’s teaching, we learn six important points about prayer:

1. Prayer includes petition for self and others – We believe that God cares about our needs and desires. Jesus instructed us to “Ask and you shall receive”. Paul’s most frequent use of prayer language is supplication for others. Following Paul’s example, we ask God’s blessing and care for others as an act of faith.

2. Prayer is meditation (mental activity) – Prayer that begins with thinking, reflecting or imagining is the normal, everyday prayer of most believers. Prayer is not always a mystical or an emotional experience. Paul taught the Corinthians “I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also…” 1 Cor 14: 13-15. Mental prayer, called meditation, disposes us to receive the gift of God’s presence.

3. Prayer includes Thanksgiving – Ultimately, prayer is always an act of gratitude to God. Saint Paul teaches us to give thanks even in the midst of suffering: “Even if I am being poured out as a libation…I am glad and rejoice with all of you…” Phil 2: 17-18. Filling our prayer with gratitude leads to joy, which is the attitude of a believer.

4. Prayer is mystical activity – Prayer carries us beyond the tangible to the realm of the spirit. “I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows…” 2 Cor 12: 2-4 This mystical experience is the GIFT of God’s grace.

5. Prayer is not always easy – If prayer was easy, more people would be praying more often. Saint Paul acknowledges the difficulty when he says, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” Rom 8:26. God gives us the GIFT of prayer – to turn or hearts to our Creator.

6. Prayer is how Christians live their daily life – For those who are in a relationship with God through Christ, prayer is neither optional nor occasional activity. Prayer is never far from our mind, lips or hearts. For Paul it’s, “Praying without ceasing” 1 Thes 5: 16-18.


Contexts for Prayer

There are two contexts for prayer – personal prayer and liturgical prayer. Personal prayer may include thanksgiving, petition, reflection on Scripture, meditation or contemplation. Some examples of Liturgical Prayer are Eucharist (Mass), Liturgy of the Hours, Penance Services, Anointing of the Sick or other Sacraments.


Reflection on Our Prayer

Reflect upon which of the four types of prayer you find easy or difficult: petition, meditation, thanksgiving or mystical prayer. Then reflect upon how you experience liturgical prayer, e.g. Mass? What matters most about prayer is our faithfulness to some regular time alone with God to keep the relationship alive and growing. Why not try praying in a way that is different than your usual practice and be open to where the Lord takes you?


Blessings,
Sister Mary Therese