Pope Francis on arguing with God - 'Even this is a prayer!'

'This is Christian life: a 'Here I am,' a continuous 'Here I am' of doing the Lor'ds will, one after the other.'

Pope Francis offered hope during Mass in the chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae Tuesday morning.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The pontiff spoke of prayer and the struggles we experience when we fight between what God wants for us and what we want for ourselves.

He said God "likes to argue with us," particularly when we struggle to accept what he is asking of us.

"Even this is a prayer!" the Pope cried, echoing the frustrations we all feel when struggling with making the right choice.

"He likes it when you get angry and tell him what you feel to his face because he is a father!"

Turning to the Letter to the Hebrews, Pope Francis said Christ clearly stated, "Behold, I come to do your will, O God."

It is Jesus' "Here I am" to the Lord that echoes the words of other important Biblical figures. Moses, Abraham. Elijah and Mary all expressed their willingness to submit to God's will.

"This is Christian life," the pontiff explained. "A 'Here I am,' a continuous 'Here I am' of doing the Lord's will, one after the other.

"It is beautiful to read Scripture, the Bible, to look for people's answer to the Lord, how they responded."

Following Christ's example can help you accept God's will in your life and can determine whether your ambitions are true or merely a pretense, claiming to "do the Lord's will but only externally."

The Pope said we should all ask ourselves, "Do I hide" like Adam did? "Do I run away? Do I pretend? or do I look the other way?"

In the end, the decision is ours alone - but if you want the blessings only the Lord can shower upon you, pray, seek guidance and bend to God's will. Remember, he will never force us to walk a difficult path without reason.

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