17th Sunday of the Year - What is prayer?
How many of us struggle with the idea of prayer? I wonder if, like me, you struggle with the concept of freely talking to God, with an open heart and mind and soul, outside of our usual formulaic prayers. I often listen to and with the new Christians as they simply let the words flow from them in a torrent of conversation to and with the Lord and wonder to myself, is this prayer? Is this how we should be praying? And then I question my own approach, with doubt and worry and concern.
When I am preparing youngsters for their First Forgiveness or First Holy Communion. We do come across this question of, “What is prayer?” And after some discussion, some to-ing and fro-ing, we will settle on something like, “It is having a personal conversation with God.” A personal conversation.
When asked by his disciples how they should pray, Jesus answered in this way. He said to them, “Say this when you pray, “Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come; give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive each on who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test.”
No long high-folluting words. No great and wondrous turns of phrase. A personal conversation with God our heavenly Father. There is an old book called Don Camillo, about and old Italian priest who lived in a town where he was often at odds with the Communist Mayor. There were many trials and tribulations he faced as he tried to look after his people against and amidst the communist teachings and leanings of the Mayor. And he was often frustrated at what to do and how to act and how to work with his people without getting them into serious trouble with the Mayor.
And within each chapter-story, there would be the inevitable conversation with God, his prayers for guidance, for strength, for patience and for peace. And just as Our Lord taught his disciples, every conversation, every moment of his prayers, started with the word, ‘Father’ but Don Camillo used the more familiar word of, ‘Papa’.
So, just as he would have spoken with his own dad as he grew up, he would raise his voice, his thoughts and his prayers to his Papa, his Father in heaven. And he explained early on in the book that this kept him focused on his relationship with God as his Father. That God cared for him and for every single one of us, as his own special children. That God wanted us to be happy and fulfilled and wherever possible God would give to all that we needed in this life.
Don Camillo did not win all of his battles outright with the Mayor of the town. God did not come down and smite him where he stood. It would often seem as if God had favoured the Mayor as he seemed to win certain situations. Quite often Don Camillo had to learn to see that other people have the right to live their lives as they have chosen. He was given patience and understanding of them and their circumstances.
But even when Don Camillo initially seemed to lose out in these conversations, where he didn’t seem to get what he had prayed for, this did not stop him from coming to the Lord at the end of each day and having another conversation with Him. He started each day offering what was to come - to the Lord. He ended each day by thanking the Lord for all that happened and asking him for the extra tools or gifts he might need for the following day to deal with a specific problem or issue.
His conversations with his Papa, never stopped or changed in their approach or direction. Lord, I believe. Help me when I stumble and doubt.
The Our father is our guide to prayer. It is our structure for prayer. It should be our starting point in prayer. Whether we say, “Father” or “Papa” or Pop” or some other form of endearment, our prayers, our conversations should always be just that. Our chance to have a talk, a private talk, with god our heavenly Father. And like all talks of this nature, like all conversations, there are times to talk and say what we want, what we truly mean and there are those times when we need to stop and simply listen. Listen actively and attentively and quietly to hear His voice in the gentleness of the passing breeze, letting us know what He is saying to us.
Pray. Have conversations with God our Father, always, everywhere and He, in His goodness, will hear our prayer and give is what we need to live full, happy and holy lives. Amen
Bidding Prayers
1. Father, Grant to us the serenity of mind to accept the things that cannot be changed; courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference. Lord in your mercy
2. We pray for and end to all war and conflict wherever it may be and for the people caught up in these situations to reach and obtain times of peace and security. Lord in your mercy
3. We pray with thanks for all that we have, all that we own and all that we are and acknowledge the gifts God has given us all. Lord in your mercy
4. We pray for all those who are worse off than us, who may be struggling to eat, drink and simply live and get by, that their lives are improved by our prayers and loving actions. Lord in your mercy
5. We pray for the sick of our parish: the lonely, the housebound, those in care-homes and hospitals and those feeling lost and forgotten, that their health and welfare improves. We pray also for all those who care for them, be they family, friends or doctors and nurses with thanks for their dedication and care. Lord in your mercy
6. We pray for all those who have died recently or about this time. We remember especially Helen Williams whose funeral service is this coming Friday at Blacon Crematorium. We remember also, Margaret Realey whose funeral service is on Friday 5th August. And also Bernard McGuigan whose funeral details are not yet known. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Lord in your mercy
7. We ask Our Lady, the Mother of our Saviour to intercede for us as we now pray together