As the storm raged, the captain realized his ship was sinking fast. He called out, "Anyone here know how to pray?" One man stepped forward. "Aye, Captain, I know how to pray."
"Good," said the captain, "you pray while the rest of us put on our life jackets - we're one short."
That might reflect how many among us view the effectiveness of prayer. Let me share just one person's experience of prayer from many internet stories of prayer miracles.
Valkaria of Miami, August, 24 2012, writes: I was actually speaking with her (Blessed Mary) about my troubles in my room and crying, and I said, "Please give me a sign that I am in your care. I cannot even talk to my best friend about this problem.
Before I could get the words out of my mouth he texted the following, "I am sitting here listening to the song "You raise me up", and you should know you are loved."
I have had too many positive experiences with the power of prayer to call this coincidence. One experience comes to mind.
I was travelling into the prairie dusk to a weekend ministry training session. I had just finished a snack and a rosary. No I didn't eat the rosary. I was behind a vehicle that was slowing me down slightly. I decided to relax and not pass.
Just then a car passed us without lights, barely visible in the darkening landscape. After a quick thank you to God I realized how differently things could have turned out. God sends angels to watch over us.
Jesus prayed daily and stayed in touch with his Father. He always prayed before big events like the passion, like choosing his disciples, and before some of his miracles.
Jesus came to earth to reconcile us to the Father. Our mission as Christians is to follow Christ, to go forth to proclaim the Good News of salvation, and to give life, to the full, as Jesus did.
Most of us are not asked to lay down our lives on the cross. We are asked to offer our prayers and works, our joys and suffering, and to unite these to the sacrifice of the cross for our salvation and that of the world. When sickness or suffering comes our way, we have the opportunity to unite it to Christ's suffering and to offer it as prayer.
In our families, the domestic church, we work and pray for our family, for the unity of its members, and for a common spirit of love. In our parishes we all need to contribute to the success, the unity and the spirit of the parish family.
Some of us may think we can no longer serve the parish and its service groups because of age and disability. Nothing is further from the truth. We can support by being members, and most importantly, we can pray for the success of the parish organization.
Above all, the steward is thankful for all the blessings and opportunities God gives us everyday. Imagine all the blessings your family or parish could enjoy if everyone prayed and worked daily for its success?
An' don't imagine all the things we ain't got cause we ain't prayed.
