TRUSTING PRAYER, NOT TESTING PRAYER
29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

A clergyman observed a poor man breaking stones, and kneeling so that he could do it more effectively। The clergy man remarked,” I wish I could break the stony hearts of my parishioners as easily as you are breaking these stones।” “Yes you can,, if you work on your knees” ,he replied.

EFFECTIVENESS OF PRAYER

Prayer is effective if it is said with proper disposition and passion. The readings for the twenty-ninth Sunday in ordinary time (Exodus 17:8-13, Lk 18:1-8) explain this fact. After explaining the story of the dishonest judge and the poor widow Jesus said, “Will not God then secure the right of his chosen ones who call out to Him day and night?” As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel was winning. God answers our prayers.

Very often, our prayer seems to be ineffective. This may be due to the following reasons. We are not persistent in our approach. Our prayers are not trusting prayer but testing prayer. Our prayer seldom accompanies sacrifice. Our prayers lack the element of commitment. Finally, we wrongly identify prayer with prayer programs. There is only one way to grow in prayer that is by praying. Reading hundred of volumes on prayer and attending a million seminars on prayer will not make anyone a disciple of Jesus. A minister was talking to a woman on an airplane flight. The flight got very bumpy. The woman said: You are a minister! Can’t you do something about this storm?” Oh…! I am in sales not in management.” He replied.

DISTRACTIONS IN PRAYER

As in other areas of life, in prayer life also at times we experience weariness and lack of interest. Human tendency is that we easily give up our efforts. Moses let his hands rest when he experienced weariness. The result was immediate. His enemy started winning the war. Distraction in prayer is not anything new. “We cannot stop birds from flying over our heads. We can prevent them from making nests on our head.” Apart from maintaining a spirit of prayer "always" and "without ceasing," we need to resort a number of precautions to re-energize our lost spirit in prayer.
1. Preparation for prayer. As someone said, “To pray for five minutes effectively one needs ten minutes of preparation.”
2. Choose the time for prayer when you are fresh. Prayer involves mind, spirit, soul and all. Jesus often chose the early hours of the day for His secret communion with the Father.
3. Focus in prayer. When there is no focus in prayer, your mind will begin to wander. Be definite and specific about your requests. Keeping a prayer list and praying over the items one by one is helpful.
THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY IN PRAYER EFFECTIVENESS


When Moses was tired, Aaron and Hur helped him to remain in prayer until sunset. We are not lone travelers but pilgrims. We journey together. We are here for each other. This is especially true with regard to our spiritual journey. There are number of incidents in the Bible that substantiate this truth. For instance, remember the scene where four men brought a paralyzed man to Jesus (Lk5:17-21). Seeing their faith Jesus healed the paralytic. Our faith can do miracle for others. Many people have spiritual paralysis. How do we lift them up as Aaron and Hur supported Moses? On another vocation disciples came to Jesus and said: Lord, teach us pray just as john taught his disciples (Lk 11:1).. The prayer of John’s disciples inspired them to know more about prayer. Be part of a worshiping community. We will remain faithful in our faith until sunset.


NOT SELF-TAK, BUT GOD TALK
30th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

A rich man came to the church to pray. He prayed, “Lord I have a business deal. I need two million dollars right now. Help me.” Then he saw another man praying standing next to him. He was a poor man. He prayed, “Lord, I have not eaten anything for two days. Please give me hundred dollars.” The rich man was distracted by his prayer. He pulled out a hundred dollar bill from his pocket and gave to the poor man. The poor man was very happy. He ran out of the church, thanking and praising God. Immediately the rich man looked at Jesus and said,” Lord the distraction is gone now. Now give me your full attention.”

The focus of this Sunday’s readings (Lk 18:9-14; Sirach 35:12-18; 2Timothy 4:6-18)) is prayer. It is about the right attitude/disposition in prayer. According to the parable, two men went to pray; a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisee was a practicing Jew and the Tax Collector was a public sinner. However, the Pharisee returned home humiliated where as the tax collector went back home justified. What was gone wrong with the Pharisee? What did go right with the Tax Collector? Two things are important here!

1. While praying, the Pharisee stood before the tax collector. When he stood before the tax collector, the Pharisee looked better. Prayer is not comparing oneself with one another and making oneself look better before God. It is standing before the Lord with humility and honesty. It is seeing oneself as God sees. The Tax Collector precisely did that.
2. Prayer is not self-talk. It is God-talk. The Pharisee talked to himself. He made claims before God, explaining to Him all the marvelous things he did for God. Prayer is not talking about me rather it is recognizing and acknowledging the mercy of God. It is not about what I am doing for God but what God is doing for me.

Prayer is effective if it is offered in humility and honesty. As we read in the Book of Sirach, the prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest until it reaches its goal.