REFLECTION
Second Sunday of Lent
March 7-8, 2020
The power of prayer!
As Catholics, we learn how to pray when we are young. The very first prayer we learn is the sign of the cross. Then we learn our traditional and ritualistic prayers; the Our Father, Hail Mary, the Rosary, grace before meals and prayer at bedtime.
Jesus teaches us the importance of prayer throughout scripture. Many readings tell us of Jesus traveling off on His own to find quiet time to pray and talk to His father. When the Apostles ask Jesus how to pray He shares with them the Our Father, which we continue to pray today. Spending quiet time reading scripture, and getting to know Him, can lead to incredibly powerful meditative prayer. Picture yourself as one of the Apostles; putting yourself in the upper room during the Lord’s Last Super. Imagine how it looked, smelled and sounded.
Beyond ritualistic prayers are prayers of requests and of thanksgiving. When in need of God’s help we need only ask. God knows our needs even before we do and He answers each prayer, (in His own time and way). Just as important are prayers of thanksgiving. When we are having a bad day, a prayer of thanksgiving for all of the good things happening to us keeps life in perspective. If we think of prayer as a conversation with our best friend, we are on the right track. God is always there for us.
Prayer is personal. We each have our own unique way of praying. If you don’t already have a regular routine, start out with just five minutes a day and then gradually increase the time. Make prayer a habit.
It is a wonderful feeling to know that Jesus is always by our side and that we are never alone. During this Lenten season, let us take time out of our busy lives each day to spend time in prayer to God. May we make our relationship with Christ a priority in our everyday life. Pray without ceasing!
Betty Burlin