prayer...........

Fr. Tom Konopka
Feb 26
1 min read

We continue to reflect on the mandate to be people of prayer as followers of Jesus. Henri Nouwen in his book, “Praying is no easy matter. It demands a relationship in which you allow the other to speak there, allow him to touch the sensitive core of your being, and allow him to see so much that you would rather leave in darkness. And when do you really want to do that?” (pg., 12: With Open Hands, Ave Maria Press, 1972). In today’s Gospel, we are reminded that God knows more than we do and as any good parent gives us what need, even when it is not what we asked for. Many have heard my story of wanting a horse when I was younger. At five or six, it made perfect sense. You ride the horse and have fun. Thankfully, my parents could see the wider picture: stable, hay, cost of the horse, we did not live in the country but the village, vet costs, cleaning up after it, and I am sure the list continued. An orange barn cat was what I ended up with. I did not understand at five, but my cat was a good cat even if he was orange.

We can only come to this type of relationship with God when we work on it and allow it to happen. God knows us better than we know ourselves. Saying prayers can keep us from going into the deep parts of our hearts, especially those parts we do not want to admit or share. God longs to love every part of us, even those parts that hide.

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