Say a Prayer

It was one of the masses last week when I got struck by a simple yet meaningful sermon. This is a rare occasion for me considering the number of masses I have heard in my entire 19 years of existence (I roughly estimate it to more or less 20,000). In addition to that, the homilist was one of my least favorite. What else is new? If only I could voluntarily or mentally shut my ears from listening, I would have done so. I half-listened nevertheless and it was an eye-opener for me. It was as if the sermon was delivered for me and me alone. The preacher was teaching about prayer.

All along I thought I was the most prayerful person in the world. Whenever I pray, my prayers always come in the form of “we, us, our, they, them.” In other words, I try as much as I could not to become selfish. Everybody needs prayers anyway – doctors performing delicate operations, scientists conducting sensitive experiments, etc. If they cannot do it at the moment that they may be able to focus all their mental powers in what they do, we are to help them. So that’s who I am, I pray for people, although not as specific as what had been mentioned. To glimpse a paragraph of my non-personal prayer:

Lord, please help us

that despite the difficulties we are facing

we remain strong, happy, content, safe, secure and healthy.

Heal us, O Lord

that we may be restored to health (in all senses of the word) soon.

But the preacher says that we are to examine our prayers or way of praying. We ask God for grand things in life, but we miss the little details, equally important. Instead of a graduation, an assiduous study and perseverance; instead of a huge pay, co-employees and employer’s amicable relationship etc. The priest even goes further as to say that perhaps, we may do well in our personal prayers if we restate them in the form of wishes. This then is a call for a re-examination of our relationship with the Source of all beings. To end, I want to share a favorite quotation from Victor Hugo:

There are moments when, whatever be the posture of the body, the soul is on its knees.

Whenever and wherever you are, prayer is possible.