TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
TUESDAY OF THE TWENTY THIRD WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
1 Corinthians 6:1-11
Luke 6:2-19
THE ROLE OF PRAYER IN OUR LIVES
Most Christians see prayer as burdensome and so prayed when needed. We tend to carry on with life and only call on God in moments when we are unable to do things for ourselves. Then we pause and invite God as a fire brigade to run to our aid. But for Jesus, he was always in communication with God. His prayer life was constant and consistent. It was more a union of hearts and a necessary instrument even in the moments of every day activities and lives.
The gospel demonstrates today the role of building union of prayer with God which Jesus exemplified for us. He would not do anything without involving God in it. His ascent to the mountain and coming down from the mountain is only an indication that he went to consult his God and spend quiet time in communion and prayer with God.
In today’s gospel, Jesus carried out the choosing of his apostles and he chose twelve men. His choice of these men were motivated and inspired by his closeness to the Father which is seen by his prayer life. Before this event, Jesus went into prayer, in solitude and contemplation away from the crowd and only in union with God. It is after his consultation and communion with God that he came down to make his choice of those men who will carry out his mission with him.
Apparently, his choice was widespread. He chose fishermen, tax collectors, even a zealot who was like a fanatical terrorist of their time. And these were able to do the work of evangelization with him.
Aside the choosing of his disciples, his prayer life motivated all he did. That even after his choice of the disciples, the power of healing, driving out demons, teaching and converting sinners became very active in his life. His whole missionary endeavor was rather enhanced by his prayer life and communion with God.
And talking about his prayer life, that is what we are called to emulate too. To build up our faith and union with God, we must enable, enhance and create adequate time for prayers, to stay with the Lord, to live in his presence, to energize our lives and to be charged for the mission and to commune with God. Prayer is not always asking, or begging or pleading for mercy and making requests. It is more involving God in our lives and our affairs, placing God in the centre of our lives and entrusting all things into his care. So we work along with him and follow his divine leadership.
Our first reading calls us to develop the attitude of building bridges of love and concord with all persons and never involving in any form of litigations and all forms of fighting and quarreling with people. The worse is to take our Christian brothers and sisters to unbelievers to judge and adjudicate between us. We must learn to live in peace and love with all and try to accommodate all. This can only be done with special union and communion with God in prayer. So our prayer life, actually motivates and solves must of our difficult moments and embellishes our lives better.
Heavenly Father, when you Son Jesus was on earth, he taught us communion and union with you in prayer. Help us to build up our prayer life, to be prayerful persons, who seek your face, in the solitude of our souls. And whenever we come to you Lord, accept us, fill us with your spirit, hear our cry, hearken to our yearnings and attend to our hearts requests. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
