Pray always. Pray without ceasing.

Dearest Ones,

As I ponder the question, why pray? the first thing that comes to my mind is that Jesus prayed. He must have prayed all the time. He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane to be delivered from His passion, on the cross He prayed, He prayed in the desert, He prayed at the Last Supper, He prayed early each morning. These are reasons enough to pray. Was His prayer always answered? No. Not in the Garden, when He prayed for deliverance from His passion, nor on the cross, when He prayed for comfort. No one is a better example of one whose prayers were unanswered than Jesus.

Did you ever find yourself thanking God for unanswered prayers? I have. A good Father or Mother doesn't give their child everything he asks for - not because they don't love the child, but because they do! If parents don't teach their children, someone else will. Children need to learn to trust their parents and their love for them. They love them too much to say "Yes." Someday their children will thank them for saying "No." Parents can see in the long run, this thing is not going to be for their happiness. That's the way it is with God. In a love relationship there is trust. Isn't that all that really matters? God says, "No" - we trust.

St. Paul is another whose prayers were unanswered - he prayed over and over for the thorn to be removed, but it stayed with him all his life. Yet, he never stopped praying. In 1 Thes. 5:17, he says, "Pray without ceasing. Pray always."

Jesus is my model in all things. He prayed and that is why I pray. I pray that I will be able to look at everyone as He did: no matter what they look like, no matter what they may have done, no matter how much they may hate Him, He sees everyone as a future saint in heaven. Why wouldn't He, after all, He died for each one?

Recently, a group of children about to be confirmed in the Sioux Falls diocese, were asked by the Bishop: "How much time do you spend each week on the cell phone, email, TV or texting?" The answers were all over - with the average as three hours a week. Then he asked, "How much time do you spend praying each week?" The average amount of time was three minutes a day. These modern inventions make it possible for people to know each other better - to be connected - and that's good. When we know what is going on in another's life, we can pray for each other. Each of us longs to be connected but if these inventions are used to gossip, or to destroy another's reputation, then they are evil. Time spent in prayer should outweigh that spent in texting, etc.

Prayer is a vital necessity. Each of us is starving spiritually without it. We cannot carry out our responsibilities in life without prayer. There is a part of us that will never be satisfied by any human - only by God. God made us for Him. There is a loneliness that can only be fulfilled by God. It's not right to expect a spouse to fill our every need. Loneliness is God's invitation to spend time with Him. In the Book of Revelation 3:20, it says: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Whoever answers the door, I will sit with him and sup." Think of it - sitting down and having lunch with God! You don't take someone out for lunch unless you really like them.

It is impossible to be a Christian without prayer. One who does not pray cannot even be called a Christian. Being a Christian is not about "do's" and "don'ts" or going to Church to make God happy - prayer doesn't change God - prayer changes us. Prayer is one of the greatest gifts we have because it keeps us connected. Through prayer, we get to know God. As you wait for your prayer to be answered, cling to Him. Don't stop asking and trusting Him for the answer.

BE STILL, MY SOUL, WAIT PATIENTLY. Psalm 37

God loves YOU!
Sister Francelle