Ask and You Shall Receive……..

On this Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we are reminded of our need to pray and the power of prayer. All the great leaders of our country prayed for the success of their endeavors and for the good of the country. In the bible, we see all the leaders of the chosen people turn to God in times of critical decisions and in difficult times. In the reading from the Old Testament, Abraham bargains with God regarding the number of good men required to save the city of Sodom! Jesus prayed. He told us to pray always and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1) Jesus often took his apostles to places of quiet, to pray.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus describes the power of prayer that expects an answer and prayer that is persistent and intercessory. “Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it will be open unto you.” (Luke 11:9) Some people wonder about the value of prayer. We call on God again and again and it may even seem that we are not getting an answer to our prayers! We believe that God is our Heavenly Father, and knows what we truly need. Fathers do not grant all the requests of their children. They know that certain things are not in their children’s best interests, and they know the need for discipline. Prayer is not first and foremost – the “saying of prayers”. Prayer is listening to God and finding out His will for us: “Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Today’s Gospel also reminds us that when we intercede on behalf of others, we are doing a work of charity. It also says that intercessory prayer is a powerful prayer.

In a world filled with “urgencies” and “emergencies” prayer often takes a back seat. “I don’t have time to pray.” We are so busy with many things that are important, good and necessary, that we feel that prayer can wait! Prayer takes time, effort and discipline. When we take the time to pray, I believe we can make better decisions and really do what we need to be doing. Many of our “busy” activities are the expression of our own impatience and needs rather than what really counts in life. Prayer helps us to be at the right place at the right time. Prayer helps us to accomplish many of the good and necessary things we do with less struggle and less problems. Making time for prayer is saving time spent on things that will take care of themselves. Time spent in prayer is a wise investment. The best thing we can do in all our efforts and struggles in life is to: “Take it to the Lord in prayer; pray as if all depended on God; work as if all depended on you.” (St. Augustine)

The Hindsight Prayer

This is a prayer found on the body of a Confederate soldier and has become known as the “Confederate Soldier’s Prayer” or the “Hindsight Prayer”:

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 was given infirmity, that I might 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 men;

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need for 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 I had hoped for.

Almost, despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among all men, truly blessed.