Rev. Fr. David Okolie
INTRODUCTION
Dearest friends, I welcome you all to this Lenten talk on the topic: PRAYER: A Lenten Powerful Arm. I consider this topic very necessary and timely too because of these two reasons:
1) We are in the Lenten Season and Prayer is one of the three arms we are encouraged to take up during lent; the other two being: Fasting and Alms giving.
2) Many Christians no longer pray and this would serve as a wake-up call to us all.
When I said that many Christians no longer pray, some of you may doubt it but before the end of this presentation, you would agree with me that truly, many Christians no longer pray.
WHAT IS PRAYER?
The Catechism teaches us that Prayer is the RAISING of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], n. 2559). Because prayer involves a necessary link to God without whom, we cannot subsist; God wants us to always Pray. Consequently, Jesus Christ himself said: “Cut off from me, you can do nothing” (cf. Jn 15:5). So, prayer is like a life link, connecting us to God.
PRAYER AS AN ARM
Because during Lent, we are expected to battle with the enemies of our souls, PRAYER becomes a powerful arm that we ought to use after the example of our Master Jesus Christ, who started his ministry with Prayer and ended it with prayer and so was able to overcome the temptations of the devil.
Since as Christians, we are still faced with temptations from the DEVIL, the FLESH and the WORLD, our chief enemies (cf. Catechism of Christian Doctrine, nn. 348-353), Prayer becomes indispensable. Thus, Jesus Christ advises us: *“WATCH and PRAY so that you would not fall into temptation” (cf. Matt 26:41).
Unfortunately, the consciousness that we are in serious battle with the above enemies of our souls is what a number of Christians lack. This is expressive in the Spiritually carefree life that are observable in the lives of a number of Christians. This explains why a number of Christians have been ENSLAVED by one vice or the other. The Church wishes her children to be conscious of the battle that Prayer would help then do. Thus, the Catechism affirms: “Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response on our part. It always presupposes effort. The great figures of prayer of the Old Covenant before Christ, as well as the Mother of God, the saints, and he himself, all teach us this: PRAYER is a battle. Against whom? Against ourselves and against the wiles of the tempter who does all he can to turn man away from prayer, away from union with God. We pray as we live, because we live as we pray. If we do not want to act habitually according to the Spirit of Christ, neither can we pray habitually in his name. The ‘spiritual battle’ of the Christian’s new life is INSEPARABLE from the battle of PRAYER” (cf. CCC, n. 2725). At this point, we recall the words of St. John Mary Vianney thus: “One of the first things that the devil always does is to make people STOP PRAYING.” Also, St. Teresa of Avila has this to say: “He who omits PRAYERS needs no devil to cast him into hell, he casts himself into hell.”
In the above, we see clearly the harm we do to ourselves when we fail to maintain an Active and healthy Prayer Life.
HOW TO MAINTAIN AN ACTIVE AND HEALTHY PRAYER LIFE:
The above is very important, especially in our world today where many things are misrepresented as PRAYER. Thus, Jesus Christ, teaching his disciples how to PRAY, affirms thus: “And when PRAYING, do not choose many words, as the hypocrites do. For they think that by their excess of words they might be heard…” (cf. Matt 6:7ff).
So, an active, effective and health prayer life does not depend on how many words we use or how loud we pray. Instead, it depends on the following:
- Faith (cf. Heb 11:6).
- Forgiveness (cf. Matt 6:14-15).
- Righteousness (cf. James 5:16).
- Humility (cf. Lk 18:9-14)
- Perseverance (cf. Lk 18:1-8).
- Submission to the Will of God (cf. Lk 22:42).
More often than not, a number of Christians PRAY more but outside the above and similar requirements and that renders their prayers ineffective. Thus Jesus said: “Until now, you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask, and you shall receive, so that your joy may be complete” (cf. Jn 16:24).
CONCLUSION
Finally, dearest friends; Origen gives us a perfect formula that would help us to always PRAY in season and out of season thus: “He ‘prays without ceasing’ who unites PRAYER to WORKS and good Works to Prayer. Only in this way can we consider as realizable the principle of praying without ceasing” (cf. CCC n. 2745). What the above means is that we should always lift up our minds and hearts to God in whatever we are doing. When we do that, we would always be sure of VICTORY. Again, let us not forget that as Catholics, we should always take seriously the Holy Mass which is the highest prayer; and then other liturgical prayers like the Office of the Hours. Praying our Rosary always is also very important.
We pray the Blessed Virgin Mary, who united with the Apostles in PRAYER in the Upper Room (cf. Acts1:14), to always support us with her powerful intercession. Amen.
Remain blessed!
