Pray Unceasingly

Today’s Gospel Text:  And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; 3 and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Vindicate me against my adversary.' 4 For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.'" 6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?" Luke 18:1-8

Reflection: So often we are exhorted to pray and Jesus invites us not just to pray but always to pray or pray always unceasingly.

Can that be possible, can we be praying always and all the time?

Yes, it is possible to pray always and at all times, even when we are asleep or working. It is a special grace given to each one of us at baptism and which we have failed to use.

It is like a gadget or an instrument given to us and may be with us still, in good condition, and we may never use it, more so because no one taught us how to use and when.

One of the key things we would teach those who would attend our retreats was how to always pray and all who followed the instructions would experience the power of God’s Spirit at work in them leading them to pray constantly, always and at all times.

They were taught how to develop the habit of habitual prayer and contemplation, which otherwise they would never have picked up, if it was not taught to them.

A few experience this power at Charismatic or Pentecostal gatherings but they tend to fade away if they don’t maintain that discipline in daily prayer.

Is it an option? It can never be an option, for we were called and chosen to worship God through every aspect of our lives and even sanctify the temporal order.

This we can do only by working in close union with the God who is still working in creation and wants to use each one of us as his instrument. 

We can do so not by having beautiful visions and plans for him, noble as it may seem, but rather by working in union with him.

One way of praying always is to ask the Lord for the grace and learning to praise him and thank him in all circumstances beginning with our personal prayer time before we begin the day.

Prayer:  Lord I pray that I may cooperate with your grace to pray unceasingly at all times and in every situation. 

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