Today's parable is about the need of disciples: "... to pray always and not to lose heart." (Lk 18: 1) Did you know that Part Four of The Catechism of the Catholic Church is about prayer? People often think that the catechism is about dry doctrinal matters but prayer is so important to the life of a Christian that it requires extensive and profound reflection by the whole Church. One definition of prayer that is given is: "Christian prayer is a covenant relationship between God and man in Christ. It is the action of God and of man, springing forth from both the Holy Spirit and ourselves, wholly directed to the Father, in union with the human will of the Son of God made man." (CCC2564) Just as we are called not to give up on our marriages, our vocations to the priesthood or to the religious life we are also called today to not give up on prayer. With God anything is possible and when we pray we open ourselves up to the power of God so save, reconcile and redeem. It is through prayer that Jesus was able to continue his mission in the face of opposition and ultimately to his Passion and Death. He even prayed on the Cross: "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." (Lk 23: 34) Our prayer is at its most perfect when it is united with him in the prayer of the Mass. Let us make the most of the opportunity given us each Sunday by entering into the Eucharist with an open and trusting heart in the power of God to save. St Augustine wrote: "He (Jesus) prays for us as our priest, prays in us as our Head, and is prayed to us as our God. Therefore, let us acknowledge our voice in him and his in us." (CCC2616)
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