Thought for the Day – 16 March – How We Should Pray

Thought for the Day – 16 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

How We Should Pray

“When Jesus asked us to pray, He promised to answer our prayers.
“Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you” (Mt 7:7).
“If you ask the Father anything in my name, he will give it to you,” (Jn 16:23).
God cannot break His promises.
Why, then, do our prayers often remain unanswered?
There are several reasons but the main one, is that which is pointed out by St James.
“You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss” (Js 4:3).
Some people say a few prayers with their lips only but without any real faith or confidence that they will be answered.
Jesus told the heartbroken father who begged Him to free his son from an evil spirit: “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mk 9:22).
The He healed the unfortunate boy.
It is necessary to have complete confidence if we wish our prayers to be answered.

Other people ask for worldly favours without ever giving a thought to their spiritual welfare.
But Jesus taught us to act otherwise.
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his justice and all these things shall be given to you besides” (Mt 6:33).
There are those who look for favours, such as bodily health or riches, which could lead to their spiritual destruction if they obtained them.
Sometimes God delays His answer in order to test our faith and perseverance.
It is important that we should pray with a right intention, with faith and perseverance and with resignation to God’s will.
We must realise clearly, that God will grant us whatever is best for us, at the most suitable moment.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci