Postscripts From The Catholic Spitfire Grill

It never ceases to amaze me how a small throw-away comment grows and takes on a life of its own on an internet forum. It started innocently enough. We were having the "standard discussion" about praying in communion with the Saints and I explained for what feels like the fifty-zillionth time that commanded to pray for each other, the saints are not dead, and we are all one body when I encountered an objection I had never heard before.

There is a very big difference. Scripture tells us to 'pray for each other.' Do you pray for the saints that you ask to pray for you?

Well I answered that yes I do. And another Catholic contributor answered that she does too and she added that sometimes she prays for Jesus too. That intrigued most of the participants in the conversation but it offended at least one who demanded that this practice be defended on "biblical" grounds. So I answered:

When I pray for someone, I am communicating with God. God is eternal and omnitemporal (outside of time). I might be stuck here in time but He is not and therefore, my prayers are not.

I can pray for ANY-old-body that I want. I pray for the martyrs of all times (some of whom became Saints and many of whom are just saints and I don't just pray for the Catholic ones either), I pray for the monks who watched over Sacred Scripture, I pray for people from history that I meet in history books, I pray for people that I've never met that have struck me deeply for whatever reason. There is a beggar that I met once outside of a market in a foreign country. She was so old and so worn and I just wanted to take her home and give her a warm bath and warm clothes....I gave her $$ instead. It was a lot but I've always wished I'd given her more. It's been almost 20 years and she's probably dead but I still pray for her. I know the Lord can see my heart. He knew before I was ever born that I would be praying for her, and I believe that He's watched her and cared for her from her birth. Not only because He loves her, but because I asked Him to. And I pray that she is safely home with Him. I sensed a deep faith in her....can't explain why that is, I just did. And if she is no longer in need of my prayers, I certainly trust the Lord to take care of someone else in her name. Open the floodgates of heaven! Thank God, He is not limited by my lack of knowledge when I pray.

Pray isn't about controlling an outcome. Prayer is about God's Grace both for the pray-er and the pray-ee. It doesn't matter that the history books have recorded the temporal events. We might know that someone's prayers isn't going to change the outcome of [terribly difficult situation] in this place and time but what they NEED is God's Grace to persevere. Isn't that what we all need the most anyway? Is there any reason why God can't hear the prayers I have 'today" and send His Grace to help someone 'then'? I don't see ANY reason why that can't happen. **I** am limited. He is not and through Him, my prayers are not.

Beyond that, when I pray for someone else I am opening myself to God's action in my life. When I love them and pray for them, as myself, I invite God's movement and graces in my life. Although He commands it, God doesn't need my prayers....**I** need them.
 
And even though He had everything, was perfectly holy, Jesus asked his disciples to "keep watch with Him."

Matthew 26: 36-41) Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is sorrowful even to death. 24 Remain here and keep watch with me." 39 He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will." 40 When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, "So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

42 Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, "My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!" 43 Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open. 44 He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again. 45 Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners.

Where the disciples prayers going to change the events that were about to unfold? I don't think so. Yet, Jesus asked for them. Is there any reason why **I** can't keep watch with Him in the Garden...other than the little technicality of me being born almost 2000 years later? So yes, I pray for Jesus. In fact, last night I spent two hours in prayer in our church chapel to "keep watch with Him" expressly because of what I see as a scriptural mandate. I pray for Him as well as thank Him and praise Him for each terrible step He took, for enduring the scourging, for enduring the mocking and the shame, for the pain, and the horror of bearing my sins. I ask for God to send Him all of the graces He needed to endure that for me. I ask God to send angels to minster to him. I ask that my tiny prayers be of some comfort to our Lord in the midst of the horror of bearing my sins. That's mostly what I pray for Jesus, but I also pray for his safety on the way to Egypt. I pray for Mary and Joseph on that journey as well. That the Lord would comfort them and provide their every need. I pray for the Apostles as they meet in council and travel on their missionary journeys. As I meditate on Scripture, I pray and the list of things to pray for is endless!! Do I know that the Lord will provide/did provide for them? Darn tootin'!! In the same I know that the Lord will provide for those I pray for in the here and now. Doesn't stop me from praying though.

So was that a good enough answer?....stay tuned, there's more!

If you followed a link to this post part two is here. Part three is here.