July 24, 2022 - "Christian Prayer"

The deacons here usually preach once a month.  On Sunday, July 17, 2022, I had the opportunity to hear all three deacons preach at different Masses.  All three homilies were excellent!  Deacon Jim Datovech made three points about prayer in the course of his homily on July 17^th.  I want to talk about his second point about prayer: God may or may not give us what we ask for, but he will always give us what we need.
 
The fourth section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church deals with Christian prayer.  One of the questions handled in that section is “Why do we complain of not being heard?”  Paragraph 2736 contains some good advice on this question:
 
Are we convinced that “we do not know how to pray as we ought”?  Are we asking God for “what is good for us”? Our Father knows what we need before we ask him, but he awaits our petition because of the dignity of his children lies in their freedom. We must pray, then, with his Spirit of freedom, to be able truly to know what he wants.
 
The Catechism of the Catholic Church goes on to quote from the words of a treatise on prayer by Evagrius Ponticus, one of the most influential theologians of the late fourth century: “Do not be troubled if you do not immediately receive from God what you ask for; for he desires to do something even greater for you, while you cling to him in prayer.”
 
This discussion of prayer that seems to go unanswered also brings to mind the story of a prayer that was found on the body of an anonymous Confederate soldier after one of the battles of the American Civil War.  Let me quote this prayer for you:
 
I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.  I asked for health that I might do greater things. I asked for health that I might do greater things.  I was given infirmity that I do better things.  I asked for riches, that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of others.  I was given weakness that I might find the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for—but everything that I had hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among all people most richly blessed.

Finally I am reminded of a story my mother told me many years ago about one of my great-grandfathers.  One day he was scheduled to catch a train to go to an important event.  When he got to the train station, he discovered that the train had already left the station.  He had the wrong time. In his desperation he prayed, “Why O God did you let this happen to me!” Later he discovered that the train he was supposed to catch had derailed.  Quite a number of passengers were killed.  Many more were seriously injured.  He was a chastened man as a result of this experience. The morale of the story, as my mother told me, was that God may not give us the thing for which we are asking.  But he will always give us what we need.
 
Wise words indeed!
 
Until next week,
Fr. John