A Prayer that is Heard

by Fred Vilbig


Jesus told a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector who went up to the temple to pray. Luke 18:9-14. The Pharisee thanked God that he was so righteous and not like other men such as the tax collector. He listed all of the “holy” things that he did, in effect, bragging to God.

The tax collector, on the other hand, stood in the back of the temple. He did not even lift up his eyes to heaven. He beat his breast in sorrow and said, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.”

Jesus pointed out that it was the tax collector’s prayer that was heard; not the Pharisee’s. He said, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

After the Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, it became somewhat fashionable to be a Christian in the Roman Empire. Some saw this as a softening of the Christian discipline. They fled to the desert, which was the beginning of monasticism.

The monks looked for ways to pray since they had a lot of time in the desert. They, of course, read the Gospels. In the Gospel of Luke, they saw that the Lord said that the prayer of the tax collector was the one that was heard by God. Over time, they developed what has come to be known in one form or another as the Jesus Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, 
have mercy on me, a sinner.

In this simple prayer, we acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and the son of God; we acknowledge our status as sinners; and we ask for God’s mercy. The monks made a habit of praying the Jesus Prayer throughout the day.

Prayer does not have to be complicated. It can be simple. Although Jesus told us not to multiply our words in prayer (Matthew 6:7), He did tell His disciples to pray always (Luke 18:1). So the “Jesus Prayer” is a simple prayer that we can pray throughout the day. We can pray it when we get up. We can grab a moment at a stoplight and pray it. While waiting for an elevator, we can pray it. We can pray it when we enter a church.

Praying this simple prayer throughout the day can help us, maybe just for that brief moment, to focus on Jesus, recalling that He is God, and that He is all merciful. Prayer doesn’t have to be complicated; it can be simple. And Jesus promises that this prayer will be heard.

At the end of your rope...

Sometimes, you have this amazing feeling that God is an active part of your life.  You see His work in all you do.  The love you have with your spouse.  The miracle of your children.  The blessings of your work.  Even the sunrise.

But other times, you feel like you are surrounded by darkness.  When you are in a bad place spiritually, and everything seems dry and distant, a few things happen.  At first you feel guilty that you even feel this way.  It's one thing for people who don't practice their faith to feel down, I mean, they don't have the hope and joy that we have in our hearts, because they don't know Jesus.  But why do I get this way?

I'm a good servant for the most part.  I try to be a good man, and own up to my failings and continue to try and strive forward.  Shouldn't I be past having these feelings?  Where is all of this perspective I'm supposed to have?  If I should feel no evil for He is with me, then why am I feeling evil right now?  How can my marriage that felt so amazing just weeks ago, appear to be so fragile?  Where are You now, when I am lost?  How do I find my way back to You?

When your faith is weak, and you can't see Christ in your life, look for him in others.  The brothers you have built relationships with over the years in your family, up at church, at work, or friends will be the rock you need.  If you have men in your life, who radiate God's love, seek them out.  Tell them about you doubts.  Tell them you feel abandoned.  Give them the opportunity to be strong enough for the both of you.

Then, even if it's the last thing you want to do, go to mass.  Take Him into your body in the sacrament of the Eucharist as often as you can.  Go to adoration as often as you can.  Just put yourself in those situations and let it permeate your spirit.  There is no such thing as darkness.  There is only the absence of light.  Physically turn on all of the lights in your house.  Turn on music that speaks to you.  Go to the places that you encounter Him most.

And then wait.  Like all relationships there are seasons that you go through.  Times of great abundance, and times of need.  Remind yourself of this, and have confidence that this draught will pass, as long as you keep holding on, by whatever means necessary.  Don't let that chord be severed, and it will snap you back once it's stretched to it's limit.

True Beauty

Anticipation fills the room. The barely perceptible dim of background music slowly fades into the buzz of excitement as, one after another, the guests arrive. Attractive dresses and high heel shoes. Multi-colored ties and sleek jackets. Hair curled or coiffed just so. Foundation, eyeliner, lipstick highlighting facial features. Fragrant aromas permeate the air. The event is one celebrating fathers and daughters, and - maybe for the first time – blossoming flowers are accentuated.

Beauty is present.

Resurrection ... is not enough

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on.  But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.  (Luke 24:28-29)

Walks slow us down providing time for thoughtful conversation.  If you’re on the wrong road, the worst you can do is move in haste.  Ever find yourself on the way to Emmaus?  I do.  Fresh spring scents wash the stench of brutality and death away.   Luke shares the story of a man and a woman walking a seven mile trek away from Jerusalem.  While engaged in an animated exchange replaying the horrors in Jerusalem, a stranger approached interrupting them acting as if he knew nothing of recent events.  Walking, not fleeing, I imagine their hopes and admiration wilted as they did not know Jesus intimately.  This distressed pair described the man from Nazareth as a prophet powerful in word and deed (24:19).  They asked in disbelief, how their people could condemn and crucify the healer, Jesus?   How often have we failed to recognize God in a friend, a spouse, a neighbor, a child, or perhaps a stranger?  

The man and woman detailed how women had entered Jesus’ tomb three days later and found no body.  Confused, they recounted a tale embellished with angels declaring Jesus to be alive!  

  

Much to their surprise, the stranger entered the conversation beginning with Moses.  From the same records for which we have access today, he interpreted the prophets and every passage of scripture referring to him.

Eventually, the two stopped having arrived home.  The stranger continued on.  As if time were cut far too short with good friends or family, the two… blind to the stranger, but burning inside… responded, pleading with an invitation to stay … and when the stranger blessed and broke the bread at the meal.  “… their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.” (Luke 24:31)  How often have we been touched by God, but it goes unrecognized for weeks, months, years before we or another recognize it upon reflection?

So moved, the two immediately returned through hostile people to Jerusalem where they found the Eleven. 

Jesus took two critical risks.  The first occurred before the journey.  He lived a radical, saving love for humanity that threatened the social, economic, political powers of society and still do to this day.  He modeled how to live beyond our self-imposed limits.  For these saving acts of love, absorbing evil through forgiveness, he faced humiliation and degradation in death.  The second risk occurred following his sacrifice.  Jesus entrusted us to respond to his love.  Resurrection is not enough.  As the man and woman journeyed to Emmaus, their eyes, hearts, thoughts were opened in community with shared experiences from life’s scriptures and the dawning Eucharist … wholesome tradition … committed to love … work for understanding and justice.  To walk away isolated … failing to respond ... indifference grows … the Divine remains a stranger … our eyes unopened.  Many who make the journey in faith alone in guarded spirituality don’t meet strangers, let alone invite them.  We all try trekking solo only to discover the solitary footprints that carried us.  The men at my PX-90 or Tuesday morning tables began as strangers.  Though they’re far from saints, I have seen the face of God in them on many occasions. 

Jesus risking death and resurrection offers invitation.  The travelers stopped.  He offered shelter, broke bread in meal, and gave vision.  Are we like the travelers in need of a lifestyle change?  Resurrection is not enough.  Without response, the Holy Spirit, God, remains a stranger in our presence.  Our candidates and catechumen have been on the road to Emmaus and will soon return to Jerusalem.  Will we see?  Will we hear?  If not, Jesus’ suffering death on a cross is folly, a tale.  

Pick Up Your Cross

by Fred Vilbig

In the Gospels, Jesus told His disciples that if they wanted to be one of His followers, they had to deny themselves, pick up their cross, and follow Him. Matt. 16:24. In Luke, Jesus is quoted as saying that we have to pick up our cross daily. Luke 9:23. The cross is not an option to Jesus. It is a fundamental requirement.

In Colossians, Paul tells us that he rejoiced in the sufferings that he endured for the benefit of the members of the church since he was making up what was lacking in the sufferings of Christ. Col. 1:24. That can be a very confusing passage since the sufferings of Jesus were more than sufficient to redeem us from our sins, but Paul still felt that he was participating in the redemptive act of Jesus, uniting himself to Jesus on the Cross.

Christ continues to be with us in the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, we are profoundly present to the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. In a very real sense, the Passion of Jesus occurred in time and space, but it also transcends time and space. Time and Space are creations of God, so there is no way that He could be subject to them. If you read the Book of Revelation, you’ll notice that the entire book is basically a description of the Mass in heaven[1]. The Mass, the sacrifice of Jesus, is eternally present to us, and if we are joined to the Body of Christ through baptism, we are also joined to the Crucified Jesus.

We, of course, are not physically nailed to the Cross. Although there are Catholics dying for their faith every day throughout the world, I doubt that anyone of us will be asked to make that ultimate sacrifice. So how is it that we can daily pick up our cross?

Some may think that Jesus was telling us we need to fast and punish ourselves to participate in the Cross. These are called mortifications. They do have value, but since they are sufferings that we choose, they actually have limited value. In a sense, these mortifications are “ego” driven.

St. Alphonsus Liguori, in his book The Practice of Divine Love, contrasts mortifications with the involuntary sufferings that God allows: our health or financial problems; the loneliness and broken hearts we endure; generally, the sufferings that just come up in our day-to-day lives.

St. Alphonsus says that God cherishes our patient endurance of these sufferings for His sake much more than the mortifications we might inflict on ourselves. If we believe that God is supremely powerful, everything that happens every day is allowed by God. As such, the offering of our daily sufferings is immensely valuable to God and should also be treasured by us.

So how do we offer our sufferings to Christ? The Church encourages us daily to make a Morning Offering. Through the Morning Offering, we transform all the little inconveniences and daily pains and sufferings we endure into holy things. We advance the Kingdom of God in our midst.

There are many forms of the Morning Offering. The following is taken from the one I have used for what that is worth:

Oh Jesus, 
through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 
I offer all of my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day 
In union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. 
I offer them for all of the intentions of your most Sacred Heart. 
In reparation for my sins, 
For the intentions of all of my family and friends, 
and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father.

This prayer is a good way to start the day. It is also a good prayer to say throughout the day. You change the trials of the day into avenues of God’s grace. In this way, we take up our cross and follow Jesus each and every day.

------------------
[1] See Michael Barber, Unlocking the Book of Revelation, Lighthouse Catholic Media.