Luke speaks about prayer more than any of the other Evangelists…and in this weekend’s gospel we hear the disciples, asking Jesus to teach them how to pray and he responds with a simple version of the Lord’s Prayer. With prayer being so foundation to who we are, how do you pray? But the bigger question may have to do with how we view prayer. In other words, do we come to prayer as a transactional or a relational activity? Do we spend our time in prayer looking for something from God…or are we desiring a connection with God?
Leave it to my grandson Oliver to open my eyes to what prayer is really all about. Check it out and see what I mean…
As we gather on this Feast of Pentecost our Scripture focuses on the “what’s next” in our call to discipleship. What does “being sent” & discipleship look like for each of us? What are we called to do and not to do? So how can an African parable, a saintly doorkeeper, a foot massager, and college basketball player help point us to the way, the truth and the light? See what I mean…
During these past weeks of Lent, our Gospels have focused on the quintessential theme of life, death and rebirth – or what some call order, disorder, and reorder. However you look at this universal pattern, one thing is for sure – there is no skipping the process. So, on this Good Friday, instead of just focusing on the cross that Christ died on – a death that was for us…what if we spent some time on the deaths that happen to us…to focus on our crosses and on our dying that needs to occur each day? What does that look like? Check it out…
If we look at the scripture that addresses the Ascension, it is no surprise that we find several conflicts across the Synoptic writers. But I believe it is John who gives us the line that opens up for us the best way to get to the deeper meaning of the Ascension, when Christ says, “it is good for you that I am going away. For unless I go away the Spirit cannot come to you.” In essence, Jesus seems to be making a connection between absence and presence - that it is necessary for absence to take place before we can be opened to presence. For this Feast Day really teaches us so much more about our life and about our loving God. What is it really all about? Check it out…
Hindered by our language many have resorted to using metaphors to describe the Trinity such as a 3-leaf clover or a harmonic cord. But what if we stopped looking at God as a noun and considered God as a verb? Early Christians described the Trinity as a dance, where God is not the dancer – rather God is the dance itself. See what I mean…
As we gather on this Feast of Pentecost our Scripture focuses on the “what’s next” in our call to discipleship. What does “being sent” & discipleship look like for each of us? What are we called to do and not to do? So how can an African parable, a saintly doorkeeper, a foot massager, and college basketball player help point us to the way, the truth and the light? See what I mean…
During these past weeks of Lent, our Gospels have focused on the quintessential theme of life, death and rebirth – or what some call order, disorder, and reorder. However you look at this universal pattern, one thing is for sure – there is no skipping the process. So, on this Good Friday, instead of just focusing on the cross that Christ died on – a death that was for us…what if we spent some time on the deaths that happen to us…to focus on our crosses and on our dying that needs to occur each day? What does that look like? Check it out…
If we look at the scripture that addresses the Ascension, it is no surprise that we find several conflicts across the Synoptic writers. But I believe it is John who gives us the line that opens up for us the best way to get to the deeper meaning of the Ascension, when Christ says, “it is good for you that I am going away. For unless I go away the Spirit cannot come to you.” In essence, Jesus seems to be making a connection between absence and presence - that it is necessary for absence to take place before we can be opened to presence. For this Feast Day really teaches us so much more about our life and about our loving God. What is it really all about? Check it out…
Hindered by our language many have resorted to using metaphors to describe the Trinity such as a 3-leaf clover or a harmonic cord. But what if we stopped looking at God as a noun and considered God as a verb? Early Christians described the Trinity as a dance, where God is not the dancer – rather God is the dance itself. See what I mean…
Trata-se da apresentação dos tópicos contidos no capítulo19 do Evangelho Segundo o Espiritismo. Os tópicos foram reagrupados de forma diferente e foram incluídas as análises do Prof. Pastorino sobre a passagem da Figueira Seca.
"A Providência, todavia, corrige, amando... Não encaminha os réus a prisões infectas e úmidas. Determina somente que os comparsas de dramas nefastos troquem a vestimenta carnal e voltem ao palco da atividade humana, de modo a se redimirem, uns à frente dos outros." Emmanuel
This past Wednesday Christians came together to be marked on the forehead with ashes, beginning the 40 day journey of Lent. Most have figured out some favorite food or activity to give up, which is all well and good. But what about looking at the way we pray. Sure we come to church…we say our prayers at home…but do we pray as Jesus taught us how to pray?
The Gospel passage is of Jesus teaching his disciples on how to pray: stop babbling words for God already knows what you need; instead, go to your inner room, close the door and to pray in secret. What is Jesus talking about? What does that look like? What does that get me? How does that transform me…and others?
Check it all out….
Trata-se da apresentação dos tópicos contidos no capítulo19 do Evangelho Segundo o Espiritismo. Os tópicos foram reagrupados de forma diferente e foram incluídas as análises do Prof. Pastorino sobre a passagem da Figueira Seca.
"A Providência, todavia, corrige, amando... Não encaminha os réus a prisões infectas e úmidas. Determina somente que os comparsas de dramas nefastos troquem a vestimenta carnal e voltem ao palco da atividade humana, de modo a se redimirem, uns à frente dos outros." Emmanuel
This past Wednesday Christians came together to be marked on the forehead with ashes, beginning the 40 day journey of Lent. Most have figured out some favorite food or activity to give up, which is all well and good. But what about looking at the way we pray. Sure we come to church…we say our prayers at home…but do we pray as Jesus taught us how to pray?
The Gospel passage is of Jesus teaching his disciples on how to pray: stop babbling words for God already knows what you need; instead, go to your inner room, close the door and to pray in secret. What is Jesus talking about? What does that look like? What does that get me? How does that transform me…and others?
Check it all out….
1. INTIMATE COMMUNICATION MARK 1:35-39
2. PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER Based on Luke 18:1-8
3. HELP! I CAN'T PRAY based on Rom. 8:26-7
4. EMPOWERING OUR ACTIVITIES WITH PRAYER Based on Eph. 6:10-1
5. THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Based on Phil. 1:3-6
6. THREE KEYS TO A BETTER PRAYER LIFE. Based on Col. 1:3
7. SPONTANEOUS PRAYER Based on I Thess. 5:12-28
8. PATRIOTIC IN PRAYER Based on I Tim. 2:1-
9. ASKING GOD based on James 1:5-8
10. CHRISTIAN CONFESSION Based on I John 1:8-9
11. SEEKING GOD'S FACE Based on II Chron. 7:11-22
12. THE PERPETUAL PREPARATION OF PRAYER Based on II Chron. 7:11-22
13. UNANSWERED PRAYER Based on Matt. 6:1-14
14. THE PLEASURE OF PRAYER Based on Psalm 84:8
from an article by Fr. Robert P. Maloney, C.M.
“Mental Prayer: Yesterday and Today - Some Reflections on the Vincentian Tradition," by Robert P. Maloney, C.M. Vincentiana: Vol. 39 : No. 2 , Article 14.
This is a study of Jesus urging us to ask the Father. He is just lake any earthly father who longs to give his child what they ask for, and not give what is bad or harmful.
Original Sin versus Original Blessing. On this Feast of the Baptism of our Lord we come to the end of the Christmas liturgical Season as we celebrate Jesus revealed to us in the Trinity. But do not miss the key part of the baptism story – for they are words that should echo in your hearts each day. What are those words? And what does your baptism call you to do? And how does the wisdom of Pope Francis and the concept of a mirror neuron network help explain that? Check it out!
This weekend we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a new liturgical year. Once again, we hear from Mark’s Gospel and the need to be awake, alert and always watching? But what are we watching for…and whatever it is, could it be where we least expect to find it? And how can the story of two boys who run Cross Country Track – one of who is blind, help us to see in a new way?
Check it out…
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Praying in the Holy Ghost
CHAPTER II.
Praying in the Name of Christ
CHAPTER III.
Chastisement
CHAPTER IV.
Strength made Perfect in Weakness
CHAPTER V.
Daily Renewal
CHAPTER VI.
Hope in God
CHAPTER VII.
Against Vain Thoughts .
CHAPTER VIII.
" Fight the Good Fight of Faith "
Homily: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Sunday 2024.docxJames Knipper
Countless volumes have been written trying to explain the mystery of three persons in one true God, leaving us to resort to metaphors such as the three-leaf clover to try to comprehend the Divinity. Many of us grew up with the quintessential pyramidal Trinity structure of God at the top and Son and Spirit in opposite corners. But what if we looked at this ‘mystery’ from a different perspective? What if we shifted our language of God as a being towards the concept of God as love? What if we focused more on the relationship within the Trinity versus the persons of the Trinity? What if stopped looking at God as a noun…and instead considered God as a verb? Check it out…
Homily: Second Sunday in Lent, Cycle B, 2024James Knipper
This weekend we heard the famous biblical story of Abraham and his son Isaac, and the angel who stopped Abraham at the last minute from sacrificing his son as God had ordered. While this passage demonstrates Abraham’s unbelievable faith in God – it is a story whose ending is often missed. An ending which turns this story upside down and changes how that culture – and we – need to see God so differently. What is this surprise twist? And how does it impact our spiritual journey? Check it out…
Homily: The Feast of the Epiphany for 2024James Knipper
For the past 12 days we have heard the stories of the birth of Jesus Christ as God incarnate indeed good news of great joy all people. So, on this Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord we celebrate Jesus revealed as the Christ Child to the magi, who arrive by the light of the star. Every year we listen to this well-known Gospel story of the journey of the magi who pay homage to the Christ Child. But today I invite you to just focus on two lines that appear in the Gospel. What are they? Check it out because…as you will you see, any interaction with this Jesus the Christ, no matter where or how it happens, will change your own journey.
Homily: Feast of the Holy Family 2023 - Cycle BJames Knipper
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family…and tomorrow the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And I like the fact that this Feast comes hours before the Solemnity for it allows us to really look at how this God incarnate, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary…this Christ Child…this God who came into the world in a family that had its heart and its doors open to love – connects to our daily life and our families. It was Pope Francis who reminded us that, “The family is important, as it is necessary for the survival of humanity. Without the family, the cultural survival of the human race would be at risk. The family. Whether we like it or not, is the foundation.”
In a society where all too often we can easily fall prey to the notion of separating the secular and the sacred, and we close our eyes to what is sacramental, what does it take to build that foundation?
Check it out…
With the calendar only providing us 3 full weeks of Advent, how have you been spending your time? What, perhaps have you been seeing…or feeling or doing differently? For Advent calls us to be conscious, awake, alert. Advent calls us to be open to how Christ comes to us every day. Advent calls for our participation by opening our eyes to our own brokenness and that of humanity. For Christ is there…just waiting and wanting our active participation. This week’s Gospel provides us three points which may lead us to a better understanding of what we are called to do moving from this briefest 4th week of Advent into Christmas and the New Year. What are they? Check it out….
Homily: 2nd Sunday of Advent, Cycle B, 2023James Knipper
As we each walk through this season of Advent, we may just find ourselves in some form of wilderness, thirsting for peace, reconciliation and healing – and thus it’s a time we need to be alert, awake, watchful and vigilant to God’s presence. So, perhaps we take the lead from Isaiah where we spend time seeking how we can better “Prepare the way of the Lord”…of how we can look at the valleys, at the crookedness, and the rough places not just in the outside world, but also in our own hearts. What does that look like? Check it out…
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe: to some degree I think the title of today’s feast day could miss the mark of its original purpose and design. For did you ever notice, nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus say to worship him, much less as a king – he simply said to follow him and to do as he does. The best description of all of this, across all the Gospels, appears in today’s reading of Matthew’s recording of Jesus’ last discourse which indicates kinship seems to be more important that kingship. What does that look like? Check it out…
Homily: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time A 2023.docxJames Knipper
Biblical scholars tell us that this Parable of the Ten Virgins was likely cobbled together from a few sources meant to drive home the message of always being prepared – a Gospel theme we will hear often between now and Christmas. But was does that mean to you and me? What does being prepared look like? And tapping into one of today’s Gospel metaphors, what is the oil that we need to be placing in our lamps? Check it out…
Homily: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time A 2023.docxJames Knipper
For the past few weeks, we have been listening to Jesus telling parables to the Chief Priests and Pharisees. For Jesus is attempting to get their attention to think differently, choose differently and to open their eyes to his teachings of the Kingdom of God. But they show no interest in listening to his teachings about love and compassion, much less inclusion. Thus, they look to corner Jesus into committing a crime of sedition and thus be crucified, by putting the question to Jesus if taxes should be paid to Caesar or not.
Perhaps a way to phrase this question in the present time would be: is our allegiance with the spiritual or the worldly? Where is our focus today? Since this story appears in all three Synoptic Gospels, this story carries a deeper and more significant message than a Gospel about just paying taxes. What is that hidden meaning? Check it out…
This Sunday we heard the conclusion of the Gospel story that began last week when Jesus said he would build his Church upon the rock of Peter. But a few lines later Jesus calls Peter, ‘Satan’ and he is told to get behind Christ and follow him. So how did Peter get it so right to the point where Jesus will use Peter as the foundation of his Church and then in the next moment Peter gets it so wrong as to be called Satan? The answer and, indeed our lesson, is rooted in the two types of thinking that we face every day. What are they? How do we distinguish them? Check it out…
The Surgeon General of the US, Dr. Vivek Murthy, just announced the ending of COVID-19 as a global emergency. But at the same time declared a new number one epidemic in our country today – one that affects 50 % of our population, and even higher for our kids. What is it? And how does that tie into the Gospel reading from John this Sunday? Check it out…
Homily: Third Sunday of Lent A 2023 .docxJames Knipper
This Sunday we heard the gospel that provides the longest dialogue recorded between Jesus and a woman. By breaking with social ‘norms’ Jesus reaches out with acceptance, self-worth and compassion to one who was socially outcast. For this is a Gospel story that teaches us, reminds us, encourages us that in the Kingdom of God there are no outcasts, there are no strangers, there are no us versus them, rather it is a kingdom of only repentant and welcomed sinners – people like you and me. But the core message of this gospel is hidden – and one that opens our eyes to what we already have. What is that? Check it out….
This weekend we hear in Matthew’s Gospel of John the Baptist sitting in a jail cell and wondering if he placed his bets on the wrong guy…questioning if the Lord is anywhere near to him. Then again, when we are faced with adversity, doubt, and loss how often have we questioned “Where is God?” and “Is the Lord anywhere near?” See how a street corner in Louisville and the wisdom of Thomas Merton may just open our eyes to see in a new way so that we can join in the chorus of Gaudete! Rejoice! on this 3rd Sunday of Advent.
Homily: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time C 2022.docxJames Knipper
This weekend we hear the parable of the widow and the judge. The Gospel writer begins with a summation that the parable talks “about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.” But if we just left it there, we would miss the secondary and deeper meaning behind the story. What is it? Check it out…
Homily for 21st Sunday in Ordinary TimeT .docxJames Knipper
The Gospel this weekend begins with the question that is asked a number of times across the gospels – and one that each of us may have asked in our own spiritual journey: “Lord, will only a few be saved? Or better said – who is going to heaven and who is going to hell?! To which Jesus answers: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” In those days the narrow gates were the side doors of the walled city where you could enter. They were less exposed and less visible allowing occupants to come and go inconspicuously.
So, what does the ‘narrow gate’ look like for you and me today? Once we figure that out, how does that begin to tell us who wins the ticket to heaven and who doesn’t? This complicated Gospel sounds more like a message of exclusion rather than inclusion. So, which is it and what does it mean for each of us? Check it out…
In this Sunday’s readings we heard that John saw a “new heaven and a new earth…for the old order has passed away…and He makes all things new.” This sense of ‘making all things’ new appears over twenty times throughout the Bible, with a reminder of our need to let go of our past, to allow room for the new – but what is this ‘’new thing”? And why is it so important that Jesus commands it?! Check it out and see how Ronald Rolheiser, Desmond Tutu and my grandchildren come at this from different angles to shed light on what we are called to do – which will allow us to transfigure the world!
I invite you to just focus on the God encounter that takes place in the Gospel story of the Transfiguration. It is when God appears in the form of a cloud which casts a shadow over those gathered – a cloud that, although frightens them, they still entered. What about the darkness and clouds that we face in our lives? For it these types of God encounters where lives are changed - encounters that break you open and rearrange what you think you knew and wanted.
So, take a few minutes to enjoy a few stories that have nothing to do with answers - but more so with encounters. Stories about hiker Trevor Thomas, Franciscan Richard Rohr and my recently departed brother-in-law Vincent – all which, like this Gospel, just may bring light into the darkness you face. Check it out…
If I go back some twenty or so years, I remember our family and friends gathering back in my wife’s hometown for many weddings, baptisms, and other sacraments. But as time has moved on and age begins to creep up on our generation, it seems that recently we have gathered all too often to mourn the death of one of our loved ones.
And so, this afternoon we remember the life and the love of Vincent. And while Vincent was physically and emotionally dis-abled – when it came to love he had the capacity to be very ‘able’ indeed. Being in the season of Lent while writing this homily gave me reason to pause and to believe that in some respect I think Vincent had an advantage over most, if not all of us.
What was that advantage…and how did he impact the lives around him? Check it out…
On this Thanksgiving Day, as our country and our world continue to climb out of this pandemic, which has gone on far too long, what does “giving thanks” look like? St. Paul gave us all a model called the paradox of gratitude. Why a paradox? And how can a true and personal story of the actions of a small Mennonite Community, post Hurricane Agnes, shed some light on how we are called to actively live a life of gratitude? Check it out…
This Sunday we brought to a close Ordinary Time of our Liturgical season and through the year we have walked through the Gospel of Mark, using the Sunday gospels learning how to see as God sees. But the question remains whether we have allowed the words to help us see any better? In his latest book release, Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ reminds us that we need to see as a Mystic sees. Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner said, “The Christian of the future will either be a mystic – or (s)he will cease to be anything at all.” We are all called to be mystics? What does that even mean or look like today? Check it out…
What Should be the Christian View of Anime?Joe Muraguri
We will learn what Anime is and see what a Christian should consider before watching anime movies? We will also learn a little bit of Shintoism religion and hentai (the craze of internet pornography today).
The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament, and is the first book of the Deuteronomistic history, the story of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile.
In Jude 17-23 Jude shifts from piling up examples of false teachers from the Old Testament to a series of practical exhortations that flow from apostolic instruction. He preserves for us what may well have been part of the apostolic catechism for the first generation of Christ-followers. In these instructions Jude exhorts the believer to deal with 3 different groups of people: scoffers who are "devoid of the Spirit", believers who have come under the influence of scoffers and believers who are so entrenched in false teaching that they need rescue and pose some real spiritual risk for the rescuer. In all of this Jude emphasizes Jesus' call to rescue straying sheep, leaving the 99 safely behind and pursuing the 1.
The PBHP DYC ~ Reflections on The Dhamma (English).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma Reflections for the PBHP DYC for the years 1993 – 2012. To motivate and inspire DYC members to keep on practicing the Dhamma and to do the meritorious deed of Dhammaduta work.
The texts are in English.
For the Video with audio narration, comments and texts in English, please check out the Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF2g_43NEa0
The Good News, newsletter for June 2024 is hereNoHo FUMC
Our monthly newsletter is available to read online. We hope you will join us each Sunday in person for our worship service. Make sure to subscribe and follow us on YouTube and social media.
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way.pptxCelso Napoleon
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way
SBs – Sunday Bible School
Adult Bible Lessons 2nd quarter 2024 CPAD
MAGAZINE: THE CAREER THAT IS PROPOSED TO US: The Path of Salvation, Holiness and Perseverance to Reach Heaven
Commentator: Pastor Osiel Gomes
Presentation: Missionary Celso Napoleon
Renewed in Grace
The Chakra System in our body - A Portal to Interdimensional Consciousness.pptxBharat Technology
each chakra is studied in greater detail, several steps have been included to
strengthen your personal intention to open each chakra more fully. These are designed
to draw forth the highest benefit for your spiritual growth.
1. 1
24 July 2022 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Princeton, NJ
This Sunday our gospel from Luke invites us to open our eyes to prayer. It is interesting to note
that Luke speaks about prayer more than any of the other Evangelists. For he shows Jesus
praying at important parts of his ministry, including: his baptism, at the selection of his apostles,
at the Transfiguration, at the Last Supper, at the Mount of Olives and on the cross. And in this
weekend’s gospel we hear the disciples, who so often saw and heard Jesus praying to his
Father and likely looking to model him - asking Jesus to teach them how to pray.
In reply, Jesus gives them the words that we now refer to as The Lord’s Prayer. This version is
briefer and simpler than the one Jesus spoke on the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded by
Matthew. But Luke’s version seems to be focused on the down to earth concerns of his
followers – of securing bread for the day, fostering a community founded on shared forgiveness,
and addressing God in a way a child would reach out to a parent for a need or a desire and
trusting that God will provide.
So now, 2000 years later, the question is - how do we pray? For prayer is so central and
foundational to who we are as individuals and as a community – with each person praying in a
way that is meaningful to them. Personally, I pray as I walk my 6 - 8 miles every day. I try to
spend more time listening that speaking as I walk along the canal path or the beach. I enjoy
passing by others, looking to make eye contact with a smile – as it generally seems to change
them, and it certainly changes me – all of which is all prayer.
No doubt, when family and friends gather at a wake service and share stories of their loved one
who has died – all of that is a form of prayer. Many pray by journaling, art or through music.
Indeed, many of the faithful enjoy more formal prayers in the form of a rosary or a novena, and
still others gravitate to silent contemplative or centering prayer…and of course, many of us may
just mix it up based on where we are in our lives. But there is no wrong way to pray…and at the
same time, I think it may be fair to say that none of us necessarily know how to pray as St. Paul
reminds us in his letter to the Romans, “We do not know how to pray as we ought.” Which kind
of takes the pressure off of any of us who wonder if we are praying the right way, as if that was
even a thing – which is not.
But the bigger question may have to do with how we view prayer. In other words, do we come
to prayer as a transactional or a relational activity? For Paul tells us that we should make our
needs known…we just heard Luke proclaim, “ask and you shall receive…” while Matthew
reminds us that, “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their
prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for
your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!”
So, do we spend our time in prayer looking for something from God…or are we desiring a
connection with God? In particular, for Luke, prayer is not about getting things from God, rather
it is about the relationship we have with our God. Echoing that thought, Franciscan Richard
Rohr reminds us that “prayer is not primarily saying words or thinking thoughts. It is, rather, a
stance. It’s a way of living in the Presence, living in awareness of the Presence, and even of
enjoying the Presence.”
2. 2
Perhaps it is a bit of both as it is in our heartfelt and honest rendering of our needs, wants and
desires to our God that we build upon our relationship with God. It is the place where we seek a
deeper and trusting relationship with the One who comes to us as a loving parent.
Leave it to my grandson, Oliver, who is just over two years old and is slowly picking up his
vocabulary. My wife and I are blessed that we get to spend a great deal of time with him and
has seen us pray. But it was just last month or so, as we were all sitting down to dinner, that he
quickly placed his hands out and said, “pray.” And we all looked at each other in somewhat awe
– accepted his invitation…held hands and prayed over our meal…and Oliver ended with a big
Amen! And his yearning for prayer has expanded, when just the other day I was locking him into
his car seat as he was heading on a trip with his parents and he just looked at me and said,
“pray?”
Even at a young age, he has recognized and learned that prayer is inherently about
connections. That it is about forming and nurturing and recognizing and giving thanks for the
relationship we have with each other and with our God. And while God can and does change
circumstances – I am convinced that more often prayer changes me and changes you – if we
allow it. Somehow my 2-year-old grandson has already figured that out.
But if we are really focused on looking at the result of our prayers – take note how this gospel
passage ends. For in the very last line we heard today, Christ weaves in the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps the reason being is that no matter how we pray, where we pray or what we pray
for…even in a transactional way – the answer…the reply is always relational – by opening our
eyes and hearts and souls to the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that holds us,
assures us, and walks with us no matter what has happened – reminding us of our God who
loves us every moment of every day and simply desires to be in relationship with you and me.
In the words of theologian Ilia Delio, “Prayer is the longing of the human heart for God. It is a
yearning and desire for relationship with God, and it is God’s attention to our desire: God-in-
communion with us.”
So maybe at its deepest level prayer is not about necessarily getting something or about
problem solving or resolving issues (although we are encouraged to trust in God for these
things), but rather, the result of all prayer is the awareness and receptivity to the Holy
Spirit…allowing us to know the God…and connect with the God…who creates within us the
desire to pray for whatever we need or want. And if I ever personally ever forget that, I always
have my grandson Oliver who will turn to me, center me, look at me, reach out to me with open
arms and ask me to “pray.”