The power of regular prayer - The Catholic Times

Pray always without becoming weary. That point is made a number of times in varying ways in sacred scripture. St. Luke goes straight to that point in the 18th chapter of his Gospel: “Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary (Lk 18:1).”

This parable is about a poor widow crying out for justice, but the only source of relief available to her is a corrupt judge – one who neither feared God nor respected anyone else. But – like a parable from our Lord typically does – the expected outcome is reversed.

The judge could easily have had her tossed out of his way, which is what I think a corrupt judge in those days would likely have done. I believe Jesus’ listeners expected that. Instead, our Lord tells us the judge unexpectedly relents in the face of her persistence and says, “I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me (Lk 18:2-6).”

I doubt a judge at that time would have been fearful of a lowly and poor woman, but Jesus is leading us into a deeper reality: real trust in God and how regular prayer is an avenue toward that goal and its benefits. Jesus shows us a judge reacting to persistence in order to set up the marvelous contrast between what is holy and what is of this world.

I believe God hears the prayers of those who reach out to Him. Jesus concludes this parable with these words: “Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to Him day and night?” Perseverance in prayer is the pathway to a deeper faith and trust in God. Praying without growing weary means trusting God and His timing and remaining faithful even when the answers seem delayed – even when it seems there is no answer at all.

So, it is clear that regular and persistent prayer is not about getting swift or easy answers; it’s about cultivating our faith in ways that make it enduring. St. Monica is a perfect example of this truth. She prayed for many years for the conversion of her son, Augustine.

Her untiring hope and trust were, in time, rewarded when her wayward son changed his ways and eventually became one of the Church’s greatest saints, a bishop and Doctor of the Church whose teachings inform our faith around the world to this day. St. Monica’s life reminds us that while God’s response to our prayers may not come right away, He does answer, and God’s responses often exceed our desires, expectations, and understanding.

With all of this in mind, I want to offer readers some practical takeaways from these understandings of prayer. First, let’s look for ways to build up our prayer lives. Our Catholic faith tradition is deep and rich, filled with so many ways to pray.

Take time to explore ways to pray. If anyone needs guidance, turn to the Church: the clergy, its books, and its resources. There is an enormous amount of good and approved material available to us. Our lives will be enriched when we work at our prayer practices, when we learn, and when we grow in the faith as a result.

Next, practice praying with trust in God. Don’t just ask for results. Let our minds and hearts lead us deeper every day into a truly humble and complete trust in God.

Lean on the community of faith when spiritual fatigue sets in. This is why we ask others to pray for us and why we tell others we are praying for them. That communal prayer does make a difference. I doubt we’ll need others to hold up our arms literally as Moses did in the Book of Exodus (Ex 17:8-13), but that can happen spiritually when we pray for others and they pray for us. I know I have felt the benefits and support of others’ prayers for me in times when I have suffered illness or loss.

Prayer calms our hearts and minds. It anchors us in God’s presence. Think of how many times people experience a sense of serenity, even when difficult or even terrible things are happening. I know I’ve been blessed with that experience, such as when my mother died or I was fighting cancer a few years ago.

Prayer draws us toward true humility and reveals just how much we need to give ourselves over to God and depend on Him, to surrender our desire to be in control, to let go of our pride. I cannot emphasize enough how important true humility is to a life of genuine faith.

Remember that when God seems quiet, we are being prepared for answers that will surprise us, that will take us in new and unexpected directions. When that happens because of our humble trust in God, we will see that the right things are happening in our lives.

Prayer should shape our souls, not just our situation. God calls us to radical friendship with Him. Prayer is the way there. By radical, I mean that word in original sense, from the Latin word radix, which means root. Think of the dandelion plant that has a long root that can grow several feet down in the ground.

If we are deeply rooted in our faith and in that radical friendship with the Lord, then we are in a loving relationship with our creator. It will no longer be about obeying the Lord and His laws just to save ourselves but a mutual loving relationship, like a parent or grandparent loving a child who loves them unconditionally in return, a mutual response to each other out of pure love.

God created all of us and wants to hold all of us close in that same way.

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