vision - 2021

• PRAYER INVOLVES CONVERSIONOF HEART:

From the Sermon on the Mountonwards, Jesus insists onconversion of heart: reconciliation with one’s brother beforepresenting an offering on thealtar, love of enemies, andprayer for persecutors, prayer tothe Father in secret, not heaping up empty phrases, prayerfulforgiveness from the depths ofthe heart, purity of heart, andseeking the Kingdom before allelse (CCC 2608).

• PRAYER RESTS UPON FAITH:Faith is a filial adherence to Godbeyond what we feel and understand. It is possible becausethe beloved Son gives us accessto the Father. He can ask us to“seek” and to “knock,” since hehimself is the door and the way.

Just as Jesus prays to theFather and gives thanks beforereceiving his gifts, so he teachesus filial boldness: “Whatever youask in prayer, believe that youreceive it, and you will.” Suchis the power of prayer and offaith that does not doubt: “allthings are possible to him whobelieves” (CCC 2609-10).

• PRAYER MEANS BEING READY TO ACT:
The prayer of faith consists not
only in saying “Lord, Lord,” but
in disposing the heart to do the
will of the Father. Jesus calls
his disciples to bring into their
prayer this concern for cooper-
ating with the divine plan
(CCC 2611).

• PRAYER REQUIRES WATCHFULNESS:In Jesus “the Kingdom of Godis at hand.” He calls his hearers to conversion and faith, butalso to watchfulness. In prayerthe disciple keeps watch, attentive to Him Who Is and HimWho Comes, in memory of hisfirst coming in the lowlinessof the flesh, and in the hopeof his second coming in glory(CCC 2612).

6) Can meditation be part
of my prayer life?

Meditation, that is, reflection on
scripture or spiritual writing, can
be a helpful form of prayer (CCC
2705-2708):
Meditation is above all a
quest. The mind seeks to
understand the why and
how of the Christian life, in
order to adhere and respond
to what the Lord is asking.
The required attentiveness
is difficult to sustain. We are
usually helped by books, and
Christians do not want for
them: the Sacred Scriptures,
particularly the Gospels,
holy icons, liturgical texts
of the day or season, writ-
ings of the spiritual fathers,
works of spirituality, the
great book of creation, and
that of history, the page on