A Thought for Tuesday 5/21/13

“The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.  For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”  Romans 8:26-27 NKJV

Continuing to try and process the devastation in Oklahoma and knowing prayer is a must, there is an important misconception many have about prayer that St. Paul seems to be addressing.  Somehow we have it in our minds that the Lord is waiting for our guidance through our prayers before He will act which, of course, cannot be true; and it is a little too simple to expect that our prayers can somehow sway the Lord’s mind especially if our own desires conflict with His perfect will.  Yes, the “prayer of the faithful avails much”, but there is no real context that says we will get whatever we want whenever we want according to our own personal desires or what we may think is best.

In the wake of the destruction of these past few days not only in Oklahoma but in Texas and across the Midwest, it is ok that we cannot find words.  It is ok that we do not feel compelled to “advise” the Holy Father as to what He should do.  It is not ok, however, to dismiss our need to pray especially as we prepare ourselves to be called forth by the Lord to act as His “agents” in helping the victims of these storms rebuild their lives and, most importantly, restore their faith in our Lord and His Holy Church.

We must give ourselves over to prayer, contemplative prayer, and surrender ourselves to the Lord each day, of course, but perhaps even more so in the coming days as the news jerks at our heart strings and the many charitable organizations compete for our limited resources.  It is only by His perfect will that we will be instructed – and comforted – so that we can help our brothers and sisters move forward with their lives, help them recover what is left of their possessions, and share with them as they mourn the loss of their loved ones.

We are The Church, the Body of Christ, the very Voice of the Almighty God Himself.  We can be no more than Him, but we must be no less.  Consider that as we “wait for God”, He may well be “waiting” for us!

Blessings,

Michael