This Lenten season, we are expected to be more prayerful.
Jesus intervenes to teach us how to pray so that God will hear our prayers. He
warns against the wrong approach to prayer: “In praying do not heap up empty phrases
as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many
words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask
Him.” God Himself does not speak empty phrases; how can man then offer to Him
empty phrases?
The prophet Isaiah announces that as the rain and snow
water the earth, giving seed to the Sower and bread to the eater, so shall the
word of God go forth; it shall not return empty, but it shall accomplish that
which it was intended, and prosper in the thing for which it was sent. Think about
how the word of God is active and alive (Heb 4:12), bearing fruit in the heart
of the believer and inspiring him to pray. We see how the word of God is our
anchor in prayer as Jesus leads the way and teaches how to pray. Thus, in his
prayer, the man of faith returns to God the fruit of what he had received, i.e.,
glory and adoration.
Prayer becomes empty when it has no roots in the word of
God.
Prayer becomes empty when it is not backed up by faith.
Prayer becomes empty when we wish to INFORM God about our
needs.
Prayer becomes empty when we turn it into argument to
CONVINCE God to answer us.
These and many more are summed up into EMPTY PHRASES, for
they go to God without returning back to Him glory and adoration. So, in the prayer
Jesus taught us, we adore and glorify God, saying, “Our Father who art in
heaven, Hallowed by thy name…” As the word of God has live in itself and does
not return to God empty, so does the prayers we offer to God does not return to
us empty, but they bring back to us divine intervention and answers to our
needs. May God continue to hear our prayers this Lent. Amen.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Tuesday February 28th, 2023.
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