Journeying Deeper: Exploring the Depths of Prayer

03-10-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Tony Okolo C.S.Sp., V.F.

Beloved Parishioners,

Today, I intend to share a reflection with you on exploring the depth of prayer. It was St. John Damascene who gave that classic definition of prayer, as “the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.” (CCC, no. 2559, citing St. John Damascene, De Fide Orth. 3, 24). The Catechism further tries to reinforce that point when it teaches that prayer is a “vital and personal relationship with the living and true God” (CCC, no. 2558).

As important as these definitions of prayer are, they are insufficient. This is because there is a huge difference between knowing about prayer and praying. The act of praying then is an activity of the soul communing with its maker. The Psalmist would describe it as “deep calling on deep” – that is a deep place where there is perfect communion between your spirit and every dimension of God’s presence.

The period of Lent is such a time when the soul is called to explore that depth, the depths of God by journeying deeper into the depth of prayer. Thus, Lent is not merely a season of giving up indulgences; it is a profound invitation to journey deeper into the mystery of prayer, to plumb the depths of the divine and encounter the ineffable presence of God in the silence of our hearts. Jesus in His time on earth prayed so often that of all His deeds, praying was the one His disciples asked Him to teach them. We too must follow that path of prayer and pray in season and out of season (I Thes 5:17) during this period of Lent. As we embark on the journey of life, prayer should be not only just a practice but a lifeline, guiding us through the wilderness of our souls as we seek to draw closer to God and deepen our relationship with Him. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can be easy to neglect the discipline of prayer, but Lent calls us to pause, to silence the noise around us, and to listen to the still, small voice of God speaking to our hearts. Thus, now is the time to intensify our praying of the Rosary, taking devotion to our patron saints seriously and following Jesus through the Stations of the Cross.

Exploring the depths of prayer is particularly needed at this time because it enables us to reflect deeply on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through prayer, we enter into the mystery of His suffering and sacrifice, contemplating the depth of His love for us and the immense price He paid for our salvation. It is a time to acknowledge our brokenness and sinfulness, to confess our shortcomings before God, and to seek His forgiveness and mercy. In prayer, we lay bare our souls, offering ourselves as living sacrifices (Rm 12:1-2), surrendering our will to God’s will, and inviting His transformative power to work in and through us.

Beloved in Christ, it is time to journey deeper. It is a time to deepen our intimacy with God, to commune with Him in the secret place of our hearts, and to open ourselves to His grace and guidance. We must therefore shun the distractions of the world, and the pleasures of sin so as to find the strength to endure the trials and temptations of life and to face our fears and doubts with courage. As we journey together in this season of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer, may we be mindful of the words of Jesus: “We ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Lk 18:1). To our prayer, we must add acts of mercy towards our brothers and sisters, especially the vulnerable in our community. St. Augustine would remind us that, “True prayer is nothing but love.”

It is my prayer today that the lifting up of our hearts to God be a source of strength, solace, and spiritual nourishment to our community. May we all experience the presence of God in your prayer closets and may it please the Lord to hear and answer our prayers, Amen.