I’m writing today, dedicated as the National Day of Prayer, to celebrate the importance of prayer in our lives. It seems lately I’m drawn more and more to prayer and connection with God. Maybe it’s the world we live in or maybe it’s just me, but I know that it’s a good thing!
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin in his book, “The Gift of Peace” written in the priest’s last two months of life encouraged us to pray when we are young! (That’s me, and probably you too!)
At the time of his book, the Cardinal was dying of cancer and found it difficult to pray. So his message to us is to “pray early” while you feel good before the weakened body impedes the spirit.
In his chapter on letting go the Cardinal reminds us that prayer is not a one-sided practice. Prayer involves speaking and listening on both sides. It’s a conversation between two dear friends, the Loved and the Beloved.
No one likes people who monopolize conversations. The same is true with our conversation with God. We can’t just pelt God with our requests and needs, we need to listen for answers. Surprisingly, the words, “silent” and “listen” use the name letters.
On Mother Teresa’s business card it read, “In the silence of the heart God speaks.”
It is in this silence that we hear where God is leading us.
Oftentimes God is asking us to “let go” of certain things that we hold near and dear to us. In this case the prayer is mostly for us. We use this silence to attune, aligning our wishes and desires to be more in tune with Gods’ design for us. “Thy Will be done.”
In the closing chapter of the book, the Cardinal says that when we are at peace that we find freedom. We let go of what is nonessential and embrace what is essential. We empty ourselves so that God may more fully work within us. And we become instruments in the Lord’s hands.
One of Cardinal Bernardin’s favorite prayers happens to be my “fave” also. Here is the prayer of peace attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
There there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
It is dying that we are born to eternal life.
Have a peace-filled week.
