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16th
Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
July 21, 2013
Terranuova
Hermitage
A Way of Praying
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
A Way of Praying
This morning, I want
to share with you a way of praying.
We often talk about
the importance of prayer. Each of us
knows by heart some prayers that we have learned, like the Our Father or the Hail Mary.
Today, instead of
another specific prayer, I want to share a way or pattern for praying
personally. This way finds its origin in
Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits.
This way has five
parts or steps. They are outlined on the
handout that is in your seats and you might want to follow along as I lead us
through this.
Thanksgiving
First, it is good to
begin our prayer with Thanksgiving.
It is valuable to
recall right from the start what we need to thank God for. It is important each day to thank God not
just in general, but to name someone or something specific.
It can be our
health, a family member, a friend, a teacher, a doctor, our job, our home, our
school, and on it goes. When we say
thanks to God, we express a positive spirit and that is so important.
This positive prayer
of thanks can overflow into our lives and affect the spirit that we carry with
us throughout the day. So it is important
always to begin our prayer with thanksgiving to God.
Enlightenment
Then we move to
Enlightenment.
We all need light or
enlightenment in some way. Maybe for our
faith itself when we are doubting or confused or trying to understand more.
Maybe we need light
when life feels very dark – maybe it is depression or loneliness – and we
desperately need some light to get through.
After we pray for the enlightenment that we need, I recommend that we read
a passage from one of the Gospels.
Read just one
section, a few verses, like today’s Gospel story, then re-read it, and just
ask: what is God saying to me here? This
prayer for enlightenment is important for our relationship with God and for us
personally.
Review
Then we move to
Review.
The idea here is to
look back and see how God came to me yesterday.
Maybe God came in an unexpected kindness or in a gentle, but clear
confrontation about something.
Maybe God came right
in my prayer itself with a renewed sense of inner peace. Maybe God came in the sunshine or flowers or
in a walk with the dog.
Maybe God came in
the Eucharist where I really felt God’s presence. So, review, look back to see how God came to
me yesterday.
Repent
Then we move to
Repent.
The issue here is:
where have I fallen short of the Gospel?
Have I related in a constructive, positive way with others?
Have I used well the
gifts and opportunities God has given me?
Have I made space or time for God?
What pops up as
something I feel guilty for doing or as something good that I could have done
but failed to do? So, how do I need to
repent and live the gospel more fully?
Resolve
And finally, we come
to Resolve.
This can flow right
from Repent and be the flip side of that.
So we might resolve to count to ten and get hold of our temper or foul
language.
You might resolve to
really be there, to really be present to your children in what is going on in
their lives. We might resolve to take
the initiative to try to clear up a relationship where distance or hostility has
crept in.
We might resolve to
seek advice or counseling or even treatment for a problem that just will not go
away. So, we end our prayer with a
resolve to be or to do what God seems to want us to be or to do this day.
Conclusion
In today’s Gospel, we see a woman named Mary, sitting at
Jesus’ feet listening, and her sister Martha, anxious and bothered about all
the details of the meal.
Jesus says that Mary “has
chosen the better part.” Here Jesus
is not saying that it is better just to focus on him and pray than to work.
He is saying that it is better to make sure that we do
pray so that our prayer will influence how we live and all the things we have
to do. We need this grounding in our relationship with God, and the way of
praying I recommend today is one way of doing that.
A Way of
Praying/ of Personal Prayer
5 parts
or steps
Thanksgiving
“Let us approach the Lord with praise and thanksgiving.” (Psalm
95)
Name something specific.
Positive spirit.
Enlightenment
“No follower of mine wanders in the dark; they shall have the light of
life.” (John 8)
Light in the darkness of life.
Read passage of Scripture.
Review
“Test yourselves to see if you are living in faith; examine
yourselves.” (Saint Paul)
How did God come to me
yesterday?
Important to see God present for
me.
Repent
“Repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1)
What I did.
What I failed to do.
Resolve
“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20)
Flows from repent.
Resolve on what I must do or how
to live this day.
