A few thoughts on praying for others that I shared with my weekly men's faith share group a while back. The Apostle says, “I am already being poured out like a libation” (II Tim 4:6). And again he says, “At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me” (II Tim 4:16). Here we see a soul who is so dedicated to his Master that he willingly pours out all that was given to him so that some might be saved and when deserted by all he says, “may it not be held against them”. That is how we are to be. What the Lord has freely given us we must freely give without counting the cost. It is not uncommon that when a sinner is transformed by Christ and he changes his life all of his former friends will leave him, as darkness cannot stand the light. However, the Lord in his graciousness sends other friends, friends who are brothers in Christ who are also struggling to grow in sanctity. At times the Lord may even call you to solitude but this is to show you that when you have God inside your heart you have all things and are never alone. It is then that you can truly pray, work and be poured out like a libation for others. View attachment 3615 St. Alexis is known as “the poor man under the stairs”. He was born in Rome in the 4th century to a wealthy family. He willingly gave up all to travel to the Christian east to live a life of prayer and asceticism. Many years later he returned to his family’s house but they did not recognize him. They thought he was just another beggar and as they were charitable they let him stay under the stairs. From there he prayed and taught those who came to him. He emptied himself and did not count the cost. After his death, the truth was revealed. We may not be called to asceticism in the desert but we are called to give to others from the treasure that Christ has deposited in our hearts. I’m sure that many go you have experienced this. When I first starting living for Jesus many year ago and felt the “pearl of great price” in my heart, I treasured it. I would gladly have given up everything else just to keep it. One day in prayer the Lord asked me to give it to someone else. I felt that I could not do this as then I would have nothing again. I waited a few days and then decided that I would take a chance and trust the Lord. I offered this in my prayer for whoever the Lord willed to give it to. Then something wonderful happened. Instead of being empty, the Lord multiplied the gift inside of me. Friends, the Lord will not be outdone in generosity. If you allow yourself to be poured out like a libation he will fill up your storehouse and the spiritual gifts will overflow. Then you will recount with joy the words of the prophet, “In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers” (Is 43:18) and again “I will pour out water upon the thirsty ground, and streams upon the dry land” (Is 44:3).
I remember on one occasion when St Padre Pio was beaten physically by demons. He was helplessly being assaulted and saw his guardian angel flying in a circle above and singing joyfully. After the episode, Padre Pio was hurt and quite angry with his guardian angel. He asked him why did you not help me when you saw me taking a beating. The angel looked at Padre Pio with a confused look on his face and said, "It was not God's will". Sometimes suffering or purification is needed and is allowed by God's permissive will. It will always bring forth a greater good. Did not the suffering and death of our Lord bring forth salvation through his Life-Giving Cross? These are very dark times in the world and even in the Church but we must trust in God. When a storm comes upon the sea and the waves begin to violently swell, the fish go deeper where the water is calm. I think this can be used as an analogy in our prayer life. We are not naive to the evils around us but we don't have to be tossed about by the waves, we can go deeper. "But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you" (Matt 6:6).
"Robert.... I remember on one occasion when St Padre Pio was beaten physically by demons. He was helplessly being assaulted and saw his guardian angel flying in a circle above and singing joyfully. After the episode, Padre Pio was hurt and quite angry with his guardian angel. He asked him why did you not help me when you saw me taking a beating. The angel looked at Padre Pio with a confused look on his face and said, "It was not God's will"." Maybe this is why Papa Francis lives among the Bishops??? He eats and sleeps among his Bishops and Priests. I do believe Papa Francis, as I did with JP2 , Our Lady and our Lord speak to them directly....just my thoughts....
IJP Perhaps the Pope does. I always did believe that JP2 spoke with our Lord and our Lady. Maybe Pope Francis is reaching out to as many as possible in these times. A friend in my prayer group is the king one one-liners and usually has very sound sayings like: "When you get to Heaven, Jesus will only have one question - who did you bring with you?" "I need the practice and you need the prayers" I am also reminded of something that I read in one of Michael Brown's books on the afterlife. A woman died on the operating table for a few moments and came back. She said that she saw a tree but it had no fruit on it. She heard our Lord's voice say, "Nothing but leaves". She completely understood that her life had been nothing but leaves. When she came back to life and recovered, she vowed to produce more fruit.
A friend said in my Friday men's prayer group that anxiety is self-centered and misdirected pride. As I chewed on that mentally, I thought don't we pray with the priest at each Mass to free us from all anxiety? Another source of anxiety can be fretting over situations that we have no control over. Some of my direct reports come to me to talk when stress levels are very high as our business can be stressful. I tell them that 90% of what we worry about never happens. So, we have wasted so much time and energy on nothing in the end. The Bible only records one sermon that our dear Lord gave: Matt ch 5,6 and 7. He Teaches us in Matt 6:28 on the subject
Matt 6:28-34 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin.But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.
It would be wonderful to be in a place where you never worried. But I think this is something we grow towards, like Faith itself. It is a long process. I also suspect that it is easier for some people than others. If we come from a secure family background it helps. But for others who have endured great trauma it may never easily come. I would say I worry a lot less now than I did when I was younger. In recent years I have noticed at mass how often we pray for peace. Did Jesus ever worry? No I think He was the embodiment of His own teaching, as was Mary. The fact that they lived a wandering gypsy kind of life style while He was preaching indicates to me someone really free of worry. I can't imagine wandering into a strange city and not having a room booked. Jesus and Mary seemed to do this regularly. Trusting in God is a very,very great grace.
