why pray - 17th sunday C benediction

Today the disciples of Jesus approached him with a request, asking him, Lord, teach us how to pray.  They asked him to also teach them because they saw John teaching his own disciples how to pray and they too wanted to be taught by Jesus whom they have just seen praying.  In fact they often see him praying.  Why would Jesus need to pray, St. Cyril of Alexandria asks?  Jesus is God, he does not need anything.  Didn't Jesus say, "all that the Father has is mine?"  SO why did he feel the need to pray.

St. Cyril replied to his questions saying, "It was to teach us not to be slack in this matter, but rather to be constant in prayers, and very urgent."  If Jesus prayed constantly, if Jesus would stay late in the night or rise early in the morning it was because he wanted to teach us that prayer is important.  If Jesus went alone by himself to a place away from the crowd, if Jesus had to allow his disciples to go ahead even without him as he stayed behind alone, it was to teach them the value of prayer in their life.

In the book the Apostolic Tradition supposedly written by St. Hippolytus of Rome, said, the clergy are ordained propter liturgiam – a priest is most priest when he leads the people in prayer and worship, and the people are served most by a priest when the priest is in prayer and worship. 

A priest is pontifex – he is bridge builder between God and man, he connects God and man, the go between, and he is eminently so when he is in prayer. 

We serve well the people when we preach well, but it is only when we pray for them and with them that we serve them more.  We serve well the people when we do community organizing and initiate livelihood programs for the poor, but we serve more when we pray for them and with them.

In a report given to me by the DOV last week so many college seminarians are late for their prayers, during the rosary especially and during penitential rites.  The DOV also noted that there seems to be now little appreciation for silence either for the minor silence and the silentium magnum.  I even called your attention once when you made the time for the minor silence, the time for evening prayer, your class prayer, a karaoke session.  In the minor silence you can talk but always in deference to those who are already praying.  In the silentium magnum, no more talking except if it is very important, and in such a case talk in whispers. 

We are men of prayer.  Following the example of Jesus sometimes we can be seen alone, we can be seen apart, we can be seen in prayer. 

In the gospel you will notice that Jesus would often end his example on that human goodness so inherent in us, with the words "how much more your heavenly Father ... how much more".  If your human father can do good things to you, how much more your heavenly Father.  I believe that is what prayer does.  In our love for others, in our service for others, in the good that we share with others, we can do even more when we pray because God the Father can do more, the Father does more.  If you love them, God loves them more, if you care for them, God cares for them more than you do, if you can provide for them, God can provide more.  "How much more your heavenly Father" – that is why we pray.

So why do we pray?  We pray because we believe we can do something, but the Father, loving as he is, can do even more.