Brothers and Sisters,
If we are honest with ourselves, many of us find prayer difficult. We may have the best of intentions, but life gets in the way. Some of us pray every day, yet at times feel as though we are simply going through the motions. Others pray fervently, but it seems that our prayers are never answered. I say that as someone who has experienced these things both before and during my priesthood.
Prayer can be difficult, dry, or distracted. But we must remember what prayer is at its core: an encounter with God. Prayer is the raising of our minds and hearts to God and the requesting of good things from him. It begins with God, who first seeks us and draws us into communion with himself.
Prayer is not simply about telling God what we want. It is about coming to know him, to trust him, and to conform our hearts to his. We should bring our needs to God, but prayer is not a transaction in which we give God our time and expect him to give us whatever we request. Rather, prayer teaches us to place our desires into his hands.
Yesterday, we celebrated the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From the Annunciation, when she said, “Let it be done unto me according to your word” (Lk 1:38), to the foot of the Cross, Mary continually walked forward in faith. She teaches us to say yes to God one day, and sometimes one step, at a time.
The Assumption shows us where Mary’s faithful journey ultimately led. She was taken body and soul into heavenly glory. Her Assumption is a unique participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection promised to all of us. Mary’s life reminds us that faithful discipleship is ultimately about being united with God, body and soul, for all eternity.
In today’s Gospel, we encounter another woman who gives us an example of faith. A Canaanite woman approaches Jesus because her daughter is suffering. At first, Jesus does not answer her. When he finally speaks, his words seem even more difficult. Yet she does not walk away. She continues to kneel before him and says, “Lord, help me.”
Her faith is remarkable because she is a Gentile, an outsider to Israel. Nevertheless, she recognizes Jesus as Lord and approaches him with humility and trust. She does not presume that God owes her anything. She simply continues to place her need before him. In the end, Jesus praises her: “Woman, great is your faith!” and her daughter is healed.
Perseverance in prayer does not mean trying to wear God down. It means continuing to place ourselves before him, asking boldly while entrusting the manner and timing of the answer to his wisdom. Sometimes the answer comes as we hoped; sometimes it comes differently or later than we expected. But God is never indifferent to our prayers.
Mary teaches us to say yes to God, even when we do not know what lies ahead. The Canaanite woman teaches us to approach Christ with humility and perseverance. Let us continue to pray, trusting that no sincere turning toward the Lord is wasted, because he is always drawing us more deeply into the life and love for which our hearts were made.