I was not always the prayerful person that I am today. And even today, I feel that I do not pray often and long enough or that I may not be doing it the right way. There was a time in my life I hardly prayed except for our Sunday mass as a family and a perfunctory “Thank you, Lord.” before going to bed and as I wake up in the morning. Yet, even during those times, I was blessed with graces beyond my imaginings. It was because of two dear friends who kept on praying for me: Sr. Mary Cordis and Sr. Mary Angeline.
Now that I have time and the will, I pray everyday and I pray for others. I pray for my loved ones. I pray for my family and friends. I pray for those who asked for my prayers and those I promised prayers for. I pray for all fathers that we may be like St. Joseph in dedication. I pray that we all draw strength from a strong devotion to the Eucharist like St. Clare. I pray that we discover the beauty and the blessings of a simple life like St. Francis of Assisi. I pray that we do even the smallest things in our daily lives with the greatest love like St. Therese of the Child Jesus. I pray for priests that they may live simple, dedicated and holy lives like St. John Vianney. I pray that we may be courageous to proclaim and to stand up for our faith even and specially when it is difficult. I pray with Padre Pio for healing. I pray with Mother Teresa for a spirit of generosity.
I love the word for Faith in Tagalog: pananampalataya. ‘Taya‘ is a wager, a bet. The act of faith is putting down a bet, laying down a wager that God will be true to His words. I know it is a sure thing. But there is always the lingering fear or apprehension of “What if?”
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his mercy endures forever.
~ Psalm 118
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
Matthew 7:21, 24-27