PRAYING FROM A BURNING HEART

Meditation for Thursday of the 29^th Week in Ordinary Time
(Eph 3:14-21; Lk 12:49-53)

St. Paul prays for the Ephesians. This is an important task of the missionary; to pray for those he ministers to. He began his prayer by humbling himself and extoling God, saying, “I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.” He prayed that God, according to the riches of His glory, may strengthen them from within with might through the Holy Spirit. He prayed that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith. Then, St. Paul appealed to God that the Ephesians should be rooted and grounded in love, and be filled deep understanding. He prayed that they may be filled with the love of Christ, which surpasses human knowledge, and that they may be filled with the fullness of God.

 All that St. Paul prayed for the Ephesians were what God already willed for them in Christ. He sought for the glory of God, and the manifestation of the life of God in their lives. Sometimes we engage in rigorous prayers asking for so many things but neglecting the true spiritual wealth God has destined for us. The prayer that captures God’s will like that of St. Paul flows from a heart that is already burning with the love of Jesus. Of this love Jesus said, “I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!” Fire of the love of Jesus, burning silently in the heart, shines out in our prayers and the intentions we offer, and it is lived out in our acts of charity.

 

At the end, St. Paul concluded his prayers for the believers by returning praise to God, who has the power within Him to do far more than we request in prayer, “To Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever.” Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Thursday October 20, 2022.

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