杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

鈥淟et us pray today for those persons who are beginning to experience economic problems because of the pandemic, because they cannot work.鈥� This was 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� prayer intention for the morning Mass he celebrated on Monday at the Casa Santa Marta. 鈥淎ll of this affects the family. We pray for those people who have this problem.鈥�

During his homily, he spoke of the faith, perseverance and courage necessary to pray well.

Unless you see signs鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis reflected on the Gospel of the healing of the functionary鈥檚 son in Cana in Galilee (John 4:43-54). After asking Jesus to cure his son, 鈥渢he Lord reproves him a bit 鈥� everyone 鈥� but him as well鈥�. Instead of staying silent, the functionary continues, saying 鈥楲ord, come down before my child dies鈥� 鈥�. He then receives the assurance from the Lord that his child would live, the 杏MAP导航 said.

Faith

Faith is the first requirement for 鈥渢rue prayer鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis said.

鈥淢any times prayer is only oral from the mouth鈥�but it doesn't come from the faith in the heart, or it's a weak faith.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 then gave another example of the father whose child was possessed who asked the Lord to increase his faith, after Jesus tells him that everything is possible to those who have faith (Mark 9:23) .

鈥淔aith and prayer; to pray with faith鈥�.  I pray either with faith or out of habit. Let's be attentive when we pray not to fall into routine, without the awareness that the Lord is here, that I'm speaking with the Lord and He is able to resolve problems.鈥�

Perseverance

The second requirement, the 杏MAP导航 said, is perseverance. Jesus himself teaches us this, he said.

鈥淪ome people ask and then the grace doesn't come. They don't have this perseverance because deep down they don't need it or they don鈥檛 have faith鈥�.

He then cited the parables in which Jesus teaches us perseverance: the person who woke up his neighbor in the middle of the night for bread, and the widow before the unjust judge.

鈥淔aith and perseverance go together because if you have faith you're sure that the Lord will give you what you are asking. If the Lord makes you wait, knock and knock and knock. In the end the Lord gives the grace.鈥�

If the Lord makes us wait, the 杏MAP导航 said, He does so 鈥渇or our good鈥�. 鈥淗e takes prayer seriously鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis said.

Courage

God wants us to pray courageously. This is the third requirement, the 杏MAP导航 said.

鈥� 鈥業s courage necessary to pray?鈥�, someone might think. To remain before the Lord: yes, it鈥檚 necessary. It鈥檚 almost, almost,  I don鈥檛 want to say a heresy, but almost as if we're threatening the Lord. Moses鈥檚 courage before God when God wanted to destroy the people鈥�. Abraham鈥檚 courage when he negotiates the salvation of Sodom. 鈥榃hat if there are 30? What if there are 20?鈥� Courage. This virtue of courage is very much needed, not only for apostolic works, but also for prayer.鈥�

Faith, perseverance and courage

The 杏MAP导航 then concluded his homily reflecting on what we are all experiencing in these days.

鈥淔aith, perseverance and courage. In these days, it's necessary to pray more. Imagine if we were to pray like this. With faith 鈥� that the Lord can intervene; with perseverance and with courage. The Lord never deludes. He makes us wait. He takes His time. But he never deludes. Faith, perseverance and courage.鈥�