Friday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Justin, Martyr (d. 165)

First Friday of the Month

Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth

Readings of the day: RB 7:34

Mass: 1 P 4:7-13; Resp Ps 96; Mk 11:11-26

Be serious and sober-minded so that you will be able to pray.

Motivated by St Peter’s words, today’s random thoughts are about prayer. When pondering the subject of prayer, I sometimes turn to my favorite part of the Catechism, namely, Part Four: Christian Prayer (CCC 2558-2865). It seems to me that the section could be lifted from the Catechism and made into a booklet for easy reference. The section immediately offers definitions of prayer by two great saints, St Thérèse of Lisieux and St John Damascene: ‘Prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy’ (2558), and ‘Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.’ We also learn that ‘humility is the foundation of prayer.’ Furthermore, ‘Only when we humbly acknowledge that “we do not know how to pray as we ought,” are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer’ (2559). Now with one of my favorite paragraphs on the source of prayer: ‘Whether prayer is expressed in words or gestures, it is the whole person who prays. But in naming the source of prayer, Scripture speaks sometimes of the soul or spirit, but most often of the heart (more than a thousand times [!]). According to Scripture, it is the heart that prays. If our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain’ (2562). To add to the mix, we remember what Jesus says in today’s Gospel: All that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When you stand up to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive your transgressions.

Where is your heart today? May we be open to receive the gift of prayer with humble and contrite hearts. May our hearts then surge with love, mercy and forgiveness. We believe, dear Lord, help our unbelief.

THIS IS OUR LORD’S WILL:

THAT OUR PRAYER AND OUR TRUST BE EQUALLY GREAT.

(Julian of Norwich)