March 29, 2020

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask God

       With so many uncertainties in our daily lives in light of the
COVID-19 pandemic, this is an important time for all of us to lean into the Lord. He, and He alone, is our consolation and peace. I ran across an article this past week about our Holy Father Pope Francis from a talk he gave on December 12, 2018. It spoke to me, and I share that message, in part, with you. Emphases are my own.
 
     “No one should be afraid to turn to God with prayer, especially in time of great doubt, suffering, and need… Jesus does not want people to become numb to life’s problems and ‘extinguish’ those things that make them human when they pray. He does not want us to smother our questions and requests, learning to put up with everything. Instead, He wants every pain, every apprehension to rise up to Heaven and become a dialogue with God the Father. With this prayer, Jesus shows an ‘audacious’ way to address God immediately as ‘our Father’ without any pomp and ‘preambles.’ He doesn’t say to turn to God calling him ‘O, the All-Powerful’ or ‘O, the One on high,’ or ‘O, You who are so far from us and I am wretched one…”
 
      “No.  He doesn’t say that, but simply (uses) the word, ‘Father,’ with great simplicity, like children who turn to their daddy.  This word, ‘Father,’ expresses intimacy, filial trust. The prayer invites people to pray in a way that lets all the barriers of subjection and fear fall away. While the Our Father is rooted in ‘the concrete reality’ of every human being, prayer, in essence, begins with life itself.”
 
     These words of faith and encouragement are timeless for all of us.  Let us continue to pray, and to pray with confidence.  Our loving God is ever near and hears all our pleas. Stay close to Him. In light of the imposed restrictions on our taken for granted gifts and freedom, humbly embrace them. Allow this to be a time of self-growth in faith, trust, and charitable concern and service to neighbor.