Daily Reflections

September 6, 2011
Jesus Prays! Why not us?

The beginning of today’s Gospel says that Jesus departed to the mountain to pray. And He did not only pray for hours but spent the night in prayer to God. You ask, “Jesus prays?” And why not? Prayer is communication with God more than an activity of a creature to his Creator. It is a person to person exchange. It is an exchange of “wills,” if you will. The Christian is expected to pray always and more in serious situations. There is nothing more important to a Christian than to know what God wills and to express his will in the process. Jesus shows His true humanity. He was the Son of God, true, but He was also the son of Mary and Joseph. He needed to pray, and pray He did.
Incidentally, He did it because He was about to choose His 12 apostles — men who will be witnesses to everything He was to do and say, who will compose the foundation of His Church, who will see to it that everything will be passed on to future generations. They were important men and He had to confer with God about them.
As a parish priest, I also get to choose my servants. They are men and women who will be my co-operators in the ministry of salvation. Ever since I became a parish priest, I have always looked for people who will be of service to the parish. I even interview them to let them know what is expected of them and what parish service entails. I find myself praying to God for enlightenment every time. I also tell them to spend time in prayer before finally deciding to become servants. Service to God is ultimately between them and God, and not with me. In most cases, our decisions were stable and responsible.
Personally, I make it a point to pray before I go out of my room in the morning. I know that once I get out of my room, I would find it harder to commune with God because of so many things to do and people to attend to. Before I retire at night, I pray again so that God and I will always be on the same page.
Needless to say, prayer is my source of spiritual strength, my refuge when I am faced with challenges and crucial decisions. If Jesus prays, so much more should we! Fr. Benny Tuazon

Reflection Question:
Do I make it a point to pray and commune with God every day? How much importance do I give to prayer in making decisions or in facing my trials?

Lord, increase my desire to pray every day.

Sts. Cottidus, Eugene & Companions, pray for us.