How To Pray

No one talks with God in vain.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of 1st Week of Lent, February 20th, 2024
Texts: Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 34: 4-7,16-19; Matthew 6:7-15 

One of the pillars of Lent is prayer. Our Lord Jesus teaches us, today, how to pray. He tells us that there is no need of using many words. Such way of praying belongs to those who do not know God. Jesus puts it thus: “In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words.”  

Since we know God, we should pray as such. Our prayer reflects our understanding and knowledge of God. The use of so many words shows that God hears us because of our word. We show that the potency of our prayer is in our words.This reveals the importance of knowledge of God in prayer. We should seek to know God, that we may prayer well. 

He who knows God knows that our prayer is not to remind Him of our needs. He knows what we need before we ask. Our prayer reaffirms and rekindle our faith in God and our communion with Him. In the words of Jesus: “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Love and faith should motivate our prayers.  

No one talks with God in vain

The effectiveness of prayer is not only about answers to our requests; we receive also special grace when we pray. Such grace could be consolation, peace, joy and the likes. No one talks with God in vain. Today’s Psalm says, “When the just cry out, the  Lord hears, and rescues them in all their distress. The  Lord is close to the broken-hearted; those whose spirit is crushed he will save.” 

Being sorry for our sins during this Lent, we are broken-hearted and crushed in the spirit. Therefore, Lent provides veritable condition for effectiveness of prayer. Prayer, during Lent, is effective. Lent is a special season in which the Church creates condition for effective prayer.  

Our prayer should be simple and direct

Jesus teaches us that our prayer should be simple and direct. The potency of our prayer is not in the words but the disposition of our hearts to God. Today’s first reading tells us how effective the Lord’s prayer is; they are the words of the Lord, God the Son.  

God says, "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the water, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I intend, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” 

Prayer 

Look upon your family, Lord, that, through the chastening effects of bodily discipline, our minds may be radiant in your presence with the strength of our yearning for you. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke