Prayer is the expression of a divine invocation — it means to ask, bless, give thanks, adore, invoke, and plead. In the Old Testament, the people of Israel faced the widespread belief in many gods. But once the covenant was made between God and His people (Ex 24:8-9), the Lord presented Himself to His chosen people as the one true God, and by His very nature, revealed His existence. He presented Himself as a personal God — and being personal, He made dialogue possible. It is here that the foundation of prayer is born.
The purpose of prayer is to encompass every aspect of life, whether to obtain spiritual or temporal goods. In some way, it also allows for liberation, for the remission of sins (Psalms 32, 52, 103), and above all, for union with God. To truly understand the spirit of the people of Israel, one must look into their heart — the Psalms — where prayer is expressed in three main forms. First, there are hymns or psalms of praise, in which man praises God not for a benefit received but simply for recognizing His goodness, His love, and His omnipotence (Psalms 8, 19, 93). Secondly, there are supplications, prayers in which God's help is sought during suffering or danger. To plead with God is to present oneself before Him in a posture of surrender, relying completely on Him (Psalms 35, 59, 103). Lastly, there are psalms of thanksgiving — an invocation to God and a confession of our unworthiness to receive divine favors, along with the expression of gratitude.
“Prayer is the most important means to help
our brothers and sisters”
In the Old Testament, prayer took place near the altar (Gen 12:8), in the sanctuary (1 Sam 1), or in the Temple of Jerusalem. In contrast, the Gospel shows us Jesus retreating to the mountain to pray (Mt 14:23; Lk 6:12), giving thanks as He broke bread at table, and even teaching His disciples how to pray (Mt 6:9-13). He invited some of them to pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk 22:39-40), and He continued praying even while nailed to the Cross (Lk 22:34). Through this, He made His entire life a prayer — both internal and external — which was not limited to a specific place.
With His life and with His death, Jesus showed us the value of love and forgiveness — two essential conditions for intercessory prayer. One cannot desire good for another without living in communion with the commandment of Jesus Christ (Jn 13:34). Abraham, David, and others pleaded and offered sacrifices to God for the well-being of others. Four men carried a man on a stretcher to be healed (Mk 2:1-12); we do not know if they were relatives, but we do know they achieved something remarkable. Jairus asked Jesus to intercede for his daughter (Mk 5:21-43), just as a foreign woman did for hers (Mt 15:21-28), among others. Christ, our model, shows us that we must live in a constant state of prayer — not only offering ourselves in sacrifice, but also asking God’s help for others, whether they are near or far, relatives or strangers, in moments of sorrow or joy. Finally, may our hearts, like the heart of the people of Israel, continue to find reasons to live and to pray. And may we, following the example of the Holy Family, allow ourselves to be guided by the hand of God, so that we too may be a blessing to others.
Luis M. Ferrusquia R. – Blog
Missionariesservantsoftheword.com
(Translated by Susana Lopez)
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