Friar’s Corner: Simple and humble prayer
Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR
Sirach 35:12-14,16-18; Psalm 34:2-3, 27-29,23; 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
Peace and all good to you all. Our church is five weeks to finishing the Church year. We finish on an upbeat note with the Solemnity of Christ the King. These last weeks we see various themes of facing the end of our life on earth by focusing on Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Last week St. Luke had us focus on perseverance in our prayers. This week Jesus points us to the interior disposition of our prayer, a humble approach.
The Sirach reading looks at God’s provision and protection of the Jewish people. This socio-economic position has certainly changed. God is not currently protecting Israel. They are doing that by their own military might. The Jewish people because of great infighting were, for the most part, destroyed in August of 70 AD. when the Romans destroyed their leadership, the temple and the entire city of Jerusalem except the Upper Room building where the Last Supper was held. They lost the land of Israel and moved what leadership there was to another location. Until the Allies recreated the state of Israel, most Jews had not lived there. The Palestinians owned and lived in that land. Since the recreation of Israel, some Jews moved back into that area and are claiming and stealing the land of those who had deeds to the land they have lived in, for some, for hundreds of years. The Jewish government there now is, I believe, the greatest problem. God is not protecting his poor people.
Focus on Jesus
Paul’s letter today was most likely written during his Roman imprisonment before his beheading in about 64 A.D. He had finished his great work of announcing the Good News of salvation from God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Are some of us nearing the end of our life on earth? Are we focused on Jesus and ready to meet him at the end of our earthly journey?
My main thought this weekend is the humble focus on our own relationship with Jesus and our humble and thankful prayer for what we have allowed God to do in our lives. In Jesus’ parable this weekend, Jesus speaks of the pride and arrogance of the Pharisee who was praying in the temple. He was not rewarded for his actions. The poor tax collecting sinner was rewarded for his penitential prayer. Are we able to put our pride aside and realize that we, as humans, are all sinners and not living out God’s perfect plan for our lives? One of the forms of prayer that I listed last weekend was penitence. That means asking for forgiveness for our past sins. We have the opportunity of doing that in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) and at the Penitential Rite at the beginning of each Mass.
Jesus, I love you
The main focus I sense for prayer is our focus on Jesus. At certain times of my day I try to focus on Jesus amidst other prayers, and just say “Jesus, I love you.” As we can put Jesus at the center of our daily life, we can thank him for his gifts and provision for us. We can ask God for what we need. We can pray for others in our family, work, church, country and world. We can praise, worship and adore God and Jesus in various places and times during our day.
The new picture of Jesus, called the Divine Mercy, is an excellent message from Jesus himself. He told Sister Faustina, now St. Faustina, the red and pale rays that are coming from his heart are highways. Jesus said we should get on one of those rays and go directly into his heart. So our mind and heart go into and become more one with Jesus and his awesome love for us. For me and countless others, this is such an “amazing grace,” to go into the heart of Jesus and rest a while there. This helps change our lives. We have direct access to Jesus and do not have to go through anyone else. Thank You, Jesus.
May the Holy Spirit help us take some time each day to go directly to Jesus with various forms of prayer that he shows us. So many wonderful graces flow from his heart. Have a special week. The protective Blood of Jesus over my weekend. I shall be going the Wilmington, DE, to help people get more on fire with the wonderful love Jesus has for all of us. I shall be praying for you as I drive some five hours there and back.
Blessings,
+ Fr. Bob Hilz
fbhilz@gmail.com
(© 2019 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)
