The Power of Prayer
Readings Esther 14:1-5:12-14; Ps 137
Matt 7:7-12
Prayer is a
powerful connection between us and God. When this link is established, God our
Father grants our petitions according to His will. The first reading of today reveals
the confidence in a woman of faith, Queen Esther, who knew the power of prayer
and used it to save her people from extermination in Babylon. We observe three
steps she followed in her intercession. First, she recognized the presence of
God. Secondly, she interceded for her people. Then, her personal need was last.
Jesus in the gospel exhorts us to approach God with confidence and trust. When we
ask, we shall receive; when we seek, we shall find; when we knock, the door
shall be opened unto us.
Prayer is
all about presence: making ourselves
present in the presence of God. We must recognize His presence and availability
for us. The awareness that we have a Father who cares for His children inspires
childlike trust and confidence. When this is understood, we can pray anywhere:
in the public, in our solitary space, in the school, in a bus, etc.
One may
wonder why some prayers are not answered— why we lack success in prayer. God knows the best for us. God may delay our
request for the mean time for our good. Once upon a time, Jesus prayed to the
Father during His agony at Gethsemane to deliver Him from the anguish He was to
undergo. Instead of delivering Him, God gave Him the passion. Christ’s
resurrection, glorification and our salvation are the fruits of the unanswered
prayer of Jesus at Gethsemane.
Prayer is
the best form of vigilance against temptation during this time of Lent. Prayer is
your spiritual power pack and amour. Start your day with prayer and end your
day with prayer; you will feel the impact of Divine presence in your life. He
who kneels before God in prayer can stand before any forces, problems and impossibilities.
So, plug into the power of prayer…
