Dear Friends,

In one of my past reflections, I concluded that Prayer is a conversation between two persons, and for us, it is a Father-child relationship. We pray not because we want to convince God to do what we want. Prayer is an act of faith and must be done consistently. There are times when we pray for one week and expect miracles. We go to confession once and expect never to be tempted again. But God usually works like a farmer, not like a magician.

A farmer plants, waters, waits, and trusts .... Growth is slow. Roots grow before fruits appear...That is how our prayer ought to be. Maybe today you are praying for your family. Trying to save your marriage. Trying to become a better parent. Trying to overcome a bad habit. Do not become discouraged because you cannot yet see results. God is still at work. His timing is always better than ours. This weekend's readings affirm one truth: the human person must shift from self-reliance to divine reliance. Isaiah confronts the futility of self-sufficiency; the psalm affirms God's nearness; Paul insists that nothing can separate believers from divine love; the Gospel demonstrates that Christ satisfies the hunger that human effort cannot meet.

If you pray only when you have something to ask for, you are like someone who reaches out to a friend only when in need of a favor. Prayer is not just about asking God for blessings. It is about loving Him, thanking Him, listening to Him, and spending time with Him. A healthy relationship grows through constant communication, not only during times of need. Our prayer times must not be mixed up with waiting appointments. The Day of the Lord must remain a moment for us to let go of everything else and allow God to speak to us, to heal us, feed us, and transform us.

Holy Scripture inspires all: "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8). So, do not pray only because you need something. Pray because you love the One who has already given you everything.

This weekend's bulletin is aimed at challenging several tendencies we have: the desire for immediate results in spiritual life; the instinct to judge or condemn others prematurely; the frustration with the presence of evil within the world, the Church, or oneself; and the discouragement that arises from personal weakness. Turn back to God in prayer and know that God is not a Magician. The deepest hunger of the human person, whether material or spiritual, is addressed by God's initiative, not human capacity. Remember the abbreviation: P.U.S.H (Pray Until Something Happens).

Pray Not Only When You Need Something!

May the Lord awaken in us the courage to bring our true hunger before Him. Free us from the illusions that promise satisfaction yet leave us empty. Make us attentive to His word, confident in His love, more reverent in our worship, and willing to receive the life only God can offer. May our insufficiency become the place where God's abundance is revealed. Amen.

Jesus, I trust in you.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Jesus, I trust in you.

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