My Thoughts on 17/06/2020

When I was a student for the priesthood I remember being asked by an enclosed nun “How is your prayer life?” I was a little taken aback and hesitated to answer because it seemed such a personal question and anyway I wasn’t sure how to answer. It was a good, direct question that put me on the spot. It might be a personal question but a question we should all ask of ourselves. How are things going regarding my prayer?

In today’s gospel, which is part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says: “And when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.” Sadly we can’t come to the church to pray at the moment but we pray at home. The presumption is that prayer is a normal part of our everyday life.

The fourth part of The Catechism of the Catholic Church is entitled “Christian Prayer” and begins with a quote from Theresa of Lisieux . “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition” We need to develop our own daily pattern of prayer. This is when we open our mind and heart to God. We have been given the Holy Spirit who enables us to pray every day.

Come Holy Spirit lead me in my prayer today.