In today’s Gospel Story (Luke 18:1-8) Jesus tells the people a parable about the need for them to pray always, and this is how the majority report understands this parable. Jesus makes it very clear this he is teaching them. As usual, the minority report might see it a bit differently, perhaps coming up with their own understanding of what it all means.
Three lines in this weekend’s readings jump out, because they relate to each other: Alleluia Verse: “The word of God is living and effective, discerning reflections and thoughts of the heart”. Gospel — “necessity to pray always without becoming weary”. First Reading — “proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient”.
“The word of God is living and effective, discerning reflections and thoughts of the heart”. This can be as real and personal as I am willing to let it. When I are open to the possibility, God’s word speaks to me in the setting of my individual circumstances, what is going on in my life as I read or hear the passages. Fr Arrupe:, SJ: “Grant me, O Lord, to see everything now with new eyes, to discern and test the spirits that help me read the signs of the times, to relish the things that are yours, and to communicate them to others”. The theologian Karl Rahner SJ: “In the days ahead, you will either be a mystic (one who has experienced God for real) or nothing at all;”. . . “When man is with God in awe and love, then he is praying”. When I am serious about prayer and open to the possibility, prayer can lead me to experience Abba really happening in and around me in very earthy ways. At times my prayer leads me simply to be open and present to whomever I am with at any given time, and perhaps an awareness of Abba happening.
Pray always without becoming weary, keeping at what I am doing even when it seems that I am wasting my time, looking for Abba happening in everything. This means letting go a lot, opening myself to what is, being led where I don’t really want to go, to do what I really don’t want to do, gradually becoming aware that it is the Spirit who is leading me. perhaps just being present to unexpected people in unexpected ways.
It’s worth remembering that prayer without action is an illusion and hypocrisy, something like “prayers and thoughts” that sounds nice, but doesn’t do much except make me feel good. Action without prayer is self-serving. Prayer naturally leads to action. The two are inseparable .Prayer is not the same as saying prayers. When I let it, saying prayers can lead me to prayer. Prayer is a way of living, an attitude of being open to finding Abba in everything. It is not an attempt to change Abba’s mind, to bring Abba around to my way of thinking, but is my desire to be open to Abba in whatever is going on at the time.
Another way of looking at prayer is simply wasting time with a good friend, and going where this takes me. It doesn’t always involve words. It does involve the discipline of some sort of prayer practice that I am faithful to every day, a practice that moves me to be open to Abba always and in everything. It leads to an amazing sense of freedom, and to being aware that I am never alone in anything. It involves listening, coming to be aware of what is gong on around me, of who is around me, who I am with, and often just being there with and for others. Prayer leads to a sense of being led, of being a part of something (Someone) much bigger than myself that is good. This in itself is a marvelous experience. It encourages me to keep looking at my life, my values, my fears. Prayer also leads me to see how far I am off the mark. The daily Examen of Consciousness is a big help here.
“Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient”. These words are a call to action, to proclaim the word by how we live in whatever our situation is. The current immigrations disaster in our own country and throughout the world, and the emotional and violent polarization over this particular issue, current government policies and actions, show the word of God is definitely “inconvenient” for any number of reasons. And yet, each of us in our own situation is called to proclaim the word. An ongoing question is, “Abba, what are you saying to me in this?”. Another quote from Rahner: “The number one cause of atheism is Christians; those who proclaim Him with their mouths and deny Him with their actions is what an unbelieving world finds unbelievable.” There is a lot of this sort of thing going around, and I certainly don’t want to be a part of it. But, am I? And move me to some action, no matter what my status.
Today’s readings are as personal as I want them to be. I can use them to point fingers and accuse/blame others, or I can let them speak to me in my own life today. On line and media are good at the blaming and accusing game, but the Gospel is not. Abba speaks to me in my own life, my own circumstances. Abba is present in everything that is going on — the terrible suffering, loss, and fear that afflicts so many, the chaos and terror of war, the efforts of simple people t do what they can to ease the pain of others. Where am I in all this. I know what I don’t want, and that is the finger-pointing game so popular these days. May I ask to see the people in my life, all of them especially the ones I don,’t like, as Abba sees them. May I be open to Abba’s word discerning reflections and thoughts of my heart. Without doubt these are in so many ways difficult days. “May I want and choose what better leads to Abba’s deepening life in me”. Not always easy to do. Just sayin . . .