THE SPIRITUAL LINK OF PRAYER We begin a new week with the celebration of a saint, the first of three in fact (successively until Wednesday). Today, it is the memorial of St. Monica who is the mother of tomorrow’s saint, Augustine. Blood (maternal or filial) ties aside, it’s those spiritual links binding us with one another that count. In the case of Monica and Augustine, it is particularly the bond of prayer — her prayer for his conversion, that is. A mother’s concern for a wayward son, that he may trace back his steps along the right path — such was Monica’s persevering plea to God. In fact, that’s the connection which prayer provides in the first place: the link with God. With her sincerity and determination, Monica’s prayer was surely a far cry from what our Lord in today’s Gospel denounces: the careless, hypocritical words of the Pharisees. Their abuse of oaths led Christ to a very scathing condemnation of them. Instead, Monica’s cries on behalf of her son were answered by God — rewarded, in fact, with the conversion of Augustine. Hopefully, our own prayers, too, will deserve a worthy hearing from God. St. Paul’s words in the first reading of today can bring us great consolation and encouragement: “We pray for you always that our God may make you worthy of his call, and fulfill by his power every honest intention and work of faith.” It’s as if St. Paul’s words found their fulfillment and realization in St. Monica. She lived worthy of her calling as a mother, and with God’s power, achieved the almost impossible work of faith and conversion. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Have you experienced receiving God’s answer to a long sought out prayer? How did it strengthen your faith? Lord Jesus, thank You for the grace to pray. And thank You for listening to my prayers and sending Your answer in the best way that You see fit for me. | ||
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