Word to the Wise
Thursday, March 17, 2011 - 1st Week of Lent - Thurs
[Esth C:12, 14-16, 23-25 and Matt 7:7-12]If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.
Jesus' teaching on prayer continues today with an admonition to put confidence in God's providence when we pray! Like so many things in the Sermon on the Mount, the task is not easy. So many of us pray with a "result-oriented" attitude. When the desired "result" does not occur, we all too easily conclude that our prayer was not "heard" or that the answer is "No." In either case, the true result of prayer then becomes, ironically, disappointment or bitterness, or even disbelief! In short, we put conditions on our faith and love by praying, "IF you love me, God, you will do this particular thing for me!" The flaws in that approach become obvious if we ask ourselves whether or not we would like our loved ones to treat us that way!
St. Augustine is supposed to have said, "Pray as if everything depends on God. Work as if everything depends on you!" My own experience is that I must ask for what I need (or even for what I want!) and contribute my efforts as far as they can go and leave the rest to God. God's providence is continual and also very broad. Our planet is by no means a constant paradise (as the earthquake victims in Japan know, to everyone's sorrow). We cannot expect God to "live our lives for us." So, we pray for the help we need to do what we must do with what we have. We can be certain of God's providential presence and care. We work together with God for the best result we can obtain. A healthy view of prayer can, itself, produce a great peace of mind! AMEN
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