Weekly Message

It would be hard to convince many people today that prayer is anything more than a useless waste of time. We live in a culture where time is an extremely important commodity. It is NOT to be wasted. We place tremendous value on productivity and efficiency. "Time is money," as the saying goes.

Spiritual authors, however, tell us how important it is to regularly spend at least SOME of our time in prayer and reflection in order to deepen our relationship with God. An intimate relationship with God actually changes us. When we draw closer to God through a regular practice of sincere, authentic prayer and reflection, God transforms us, more and more, into the truest and best version of ourselves.

Henri Nouwen said that the spiritual life, for most Americans, consists basically of us telling God how WE want our various situations in life to turn out. Then we ask God to see to it that things turn out that way, MY way! Prayers of petition are certainly an important part of our prayer life, as today's Gospel reminds us. They help keep us close to God. But Nouwen says that the spiritual life OUGHT to be primarily about God's Love changing ME (not my circumstances), and turning me into the person God wants me to become.

A while back, I found the following quote in a monastic newsletter: "If you are a mature spiritual person, your life is not all about you. Your life is all about God, and what God can do for others, through you!" Through our commitment to both personal and communal prayer, may we allow the Lord to transform us into mature, spiritual people; the truest and very best version of ourselves.

Fr. John Kelleher