PRAYING FROM THE SOURCE

Reflection for Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Year A

(2Sam 7:18-19, 24-29; Mk 4:21-25)

After prophet Nathan spoke to David, the King went in and prayed to God. “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?” He humbled himself before the Lord and made a unique request: He asked God to give him what God promised!  “And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word which you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken.” This is when the man of prayer seeks but only God’s will. And this can only be so when the desire of the heart is prompted by God’s word. Thus, the desire of what God had promised is itself prayer—a prayer in which the answer goes ahead of the petition. The essence of such prayer is to prepare the man of prayer to readily embrace God’s response that is before him!

It becomes necessary, therefore, that the desires of our hearts should arise and rest in God’s word. When we begin to create prayer-points, multiply intentions, and accumulate divergent longings in our prayers, then our words begin to multiply, serenity and silence gradually evaporate. Now what ought to restore peace and security is stuffed with tension and fear.  How can such light of prayer shine? The humble prayer of David today is so powerful. It is like the Eucharistic sacrifice in which we return back to God what He had given us.

Thus, what God had given, we return in sacrifice; what God had promised, we ask in prayer. “For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Our lives will shine like the light of our prayers. The light of Christ is already burning in us. But unruly desires are like the bushel that tries to cover the light. “When you do prayer and do not receive, it is because you prayed wrongly, wanting to indulge your passions” (James 4:3).

This is why we need silence and meditation in order to examine and purify the inclinations of our hearts, aligning our desires with God’s will. Then, God’s promises will inspire and prompt our petitions, and there too we surrender the intentions.  

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Thursday 30^th January, 2020.