Preparing for Lent: Learning to Pray, Love, and Live Our Lives in Communion with God
Through prayer, daily life takes on a new meaning. It becomes a classroom of communion
"The so-called "practical people" are not really the most useful in the service of Christ's Church, nor are those who merely expound theories. Rather it is the true contemplatives who best serve her; those with the steady, generous and passionate desire of transfiguring and divinizing all creation with Christ and in Christ. It may sound paradoxical, but in the Church of Jesus Christ, the mystic is the only practical person" (Bishop Alvaro del Portillo) We will live the way we love and we will love the way we pray. Lent calls us to learn the way of prayer.
Blessed John Paul II at prayer during Lent
PrintCHESAPEAKE, VA (Catholic Online) - I am frequently asked what I think is the greatest need in the Church today. Because of my work - and much of my writing - people presume how I will answer. They expect me to be what they call "action oriented" and "practical." My answer is simple. "The greatest need in the Church today is more people who pray", I respond.
One of my favorite Bishops once wrote, "The so-called "practical people" are not really the most useful in the service of Christ's Church, nor are those who merely expound theories. Rather it is the true contemplatives who best serve her; those with the steady, generous and passionate desire of transfiguring and divinizing all creation with Christ and in Christ. It may sound paradoxical, but in the Church of Jesus Christ, the mystic is the only practical person" (Bishop Alvaro del Portillo)
In the biblical accounts of the earthly life of Jesus we discover the way in which He lived in a continual communion with the Father. They are meant to teach us the way of prayer. Here are but a few snippets of many passages in the Gospels;
After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened (Luke 3:21);
He was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. (Luke 11: 1-3);
In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named apostles: (Luke 6:12-13);
About eight days after he said this, he took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white." (Luke 9:28-29)
Jesus was a man of prayer. We often think that He prayed the way He did only "because He was Divine." However, in his sacred humanity he reveals the fullness of our own humanity, as redeemed and recreated in Him. The Fathers of the 2nd Vatican Council reminded us of this:
"The truth is that only in the mystery of the Incarnate Word does the mystery of man take on light. For Adam, the first man, was a figure of Him Who was to come, namely Christ the Lord. Christ, the final Adam, by the revelation of the mystery of the Father and His love, fully reveals man to man himself and makes his supreme calling clear." (GS #22)
In Jesus, we find a new way of being human, beginning right now. He Himself is the Way, the Truth and the Life. (Jn. 14:16) By His Incarnation - His Saving Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension- we are capacitated by grace to live differently. We can become what spiritual writers have long called "sons (and daughters) in the Son."
The prayer of Jesus opened the heavens, brought provision to the hungry, gave Him clarity for making decisions and brought the glory of heaven to earth and earth to heaven. Prayer still does all of this, and more, for all who will learn how to live their lives immersed in God as He did.
Through prayer we recover the capacity for a communion of love with the living God and learn how to plunge ourselves into its embrace. Through prayer we cry out with Jesus, "Abba Father." No longer alienated from God, we participate in the inner life of God. God dwells in us and we dwell in Him through His Spirit. This is prayer. It is not so much about doing or getting but rather about being, receiving, giving, and loving.
Through prayer, daily life takes on a new meaning. It becomes a classroom of communion. In that classroom we learn the truth about who we are - and who we are becoming - in Jesus. Through prayer we receive new glasses through which we see the true landscape of life and find the way to walk.
Through prayer darkness is dispelled and the path of true progress is illuminated. Through prayer we begin to understand why this kind of communion seems so elusive at times. Because of sin, we struggle with our own disordered appetites, and live in a manner at odds with the beauty and order of the creation within which we dwell. Then, through prayer, we find the way to freedom from the effects of sin and a new beginning. We learn to live as penitents, eagerly confessing our sin and regularly returning to our first love.
Prayer opens us to Revelation, expands our capacity to comprehend truth and equips us to change, through conversion. Through prayer we are drawn into a deepening relationship with Jesus, whose loving embrace on the hill of Golgotha bridged heaven and earth. His relationship with His Father is opened now to us. The same Spirit that raised Him from the dead begins to give us new ...
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What a great article! I have been in the church for almost a year now and my wife has returned as well (will be confirmed this Easter). One thing we both have noticed is that our local RCIA program is heavy on doctine, which is essential, but is light on the spiritual aspect. Prayer was really just a module we covered but we have come to see that a devout prayer life is essential to true peace in Christ. Realizing this has brought greater depth to our faith, our love for each other, and Christ especially. It is easy to be pulled in many directions by the world and only through prayer and the sacraments can we stay true and strong in our faith. I hope that the message of this article will carry on beyond Lent, Jesus, Mother Mary, and the Saints have have all called us to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!
Very much needed in these days described by our Lord when country rises against country and sons against fathers.... He said also to us to be patient since He will remain with us until the end
This article is simple wonderful, yes indeed prayer is a dialoque, the easiest communication channel to reach the creator. l love to recieve this type of article often.
best regards.
I am happiest when I sit with God. I enjoy His Presence.
Inspiring and thought provoking.
Great article Deacon. I know that I need more prayer in my life. Thanks for reminding me what "this" is all about. I think I get lost in all the politics sometimes. I can't wait for lent as I really need to reconnect.
The Catholic Church in the wisdom of Christ has always stated that the error of "Modernism" be not applied to matters of faith, for faith comes off things eternal, time not applicable to it, in the same way that the scriptures are not meant to be interpreted but to be revealed off the Spirit, such that its words be not twisted to human likings, but to turn the minds to the things of GOD which is His Will, in the understanding to the purpose of this life which is to Salvation in Christ Jesus. To a better understanding is, when Joshua addressing the congregation of Israel, pointed to the The Rock 'Christ" in spirit as the "Witness to all things of GOD", that Rock which became born as Jesus Christ on earth, as man. Joshua Prophesied to Israel saying "You Cannot Serve GOD for He is an Holy one" meaning that in the corruptions of the body to decay, the same state that we are today. where the body leads the spirit, one cannot serve GOD. As per the Prophecy, Israel fell into Syncretism in faith to Apostasy(till today) & were kicked out from all the lands which the Lord GOD gave them. So the Prophecy of Joshua to Israel 'You cannot serve GOD for He is an Holy One" was for the Coming of "The Christ" to be transformed to His state in Him from the present state, where the body leads the spirit, with the body in the corruptions, to His State "the transfiguration state" where the Spirit leads the body in purity & Holiness to serve GOD., brought about through Faith in the Grace. This is the Mystery of the Holy Mass, in the mystery of receiving the Body & Blood of Christ, through the significance of His Death & Resurrection, to our resurrection in Him, to life with GOD in the eternal.
IN THE WORLD WE CAN HELP TO OTHERS BY PRAYING TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND EVER BLESSED VIRGIN MARY AND ALL THE SAINTS AND ANGLES PLEASE PRAY FOR MY FAMILY GUDAPATI MATHAYAS AND HIS FAMILY AND I ALSO PRAY FOR ALL OF YOU PLEASE PRAY FOR OTHERS THAT IS THE ONE WE ARE HELPING OUR FRIENDS IN THE WORLD .....IAM FROM INDIAN
THE CHURCH IN GETHSEMANE
The Ship of Peter is torn apart
Martyred in its Holy Teaching
It sinks and sinks, no work of art
The bottom though never reaching.
Dissidents are screaming loud
Leaving behind an awful niff
Pretending to be proudly stout
Gearing the Ship into a cliff
Jesus shows His wounded Heart
Smitten with a deadly dart
Peter the Rock in desolation
Deploring severe desecration
Wake up, you Christian Brother
Show now your truthful face
With Mary our Heavenly Mother
We’ll reach that Peaceful Place
In allegiance to the Holy Father
United in prayer and fasting
No victory will claim, but rather
satan’s defeat be everlasting.
Rita B. , 01-02-2011