By Terry Lees
A PRIEST, sitting in a quiet country church, was finishing his Divine Office when he noticed an elderly bloke sitting in the church and staring intently at the Tabernacle.
After several minutes the priest saw that the man continued to stare at the Tabernacle without shifting his gaze.
Curiosity got the better of him and he decided to engage the man in conversation.
“Forgive me, but I couldn’t help noticing the way you are gazing intently at the Tabernacle. May I ask why.”
“Well Father,” the man replied, “I never had the benefit of an education and no one ever taught me how to pray. So, I just sit here and look at him and he looks back at me. And I reckon that’s okay for both of us.”
St Therese of Lisieux said prayer is “… a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy”.
How often when we think of prayer do we think in terms of words? Yet, prayer can be so much more than mere words.
The word of God, through Psalms, shows us one way to pray without words, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10).
That’s exactly what the elderly country bloke was doing; he was looking at God and God was looking back at him. No words, just loving silence. That’s prayer.
In all Catholic Schools across the Diocese of Townsville, the students spend between 3 to 5 minutes each school day in silent meditation – prayer of the heart.
They silently repeat one word: Maranatha, an Aramaic word which loosely translates as “Come Lord Jesus.” It is a way of simplicity, silence and stillness leading the students from mind to heart – to “be still and know that I am God.”
Dominican Sister Sylvia Rossell, from the Stillpoint House of Prayer in New York, said, “If you can still your mind, you can hear your own heart. And at the core of your heart is the indwelling of God. It’s just like when you love someone, you just sit there and look at each other… It’s an awesome thing. God is present to you and you are present – to each other. It’s a matter of just being there.”
Another form of silent prayer is that of listening.
The focus is of listening to the still, small voice of God, who reveals himself in our innermost being.
You listen at the core of your being to the deepest voice of all, the voice of God and the Holy Spirit.
Without any need for thought and words, exchange quiet love with God for as long as you feel inspired to do so.
“Listening is the way of knowing who God is, who we are and what our relationship with God is…. Every genuine meeting with God is a response with all our heart, soul and strength.” (At Home with God – Tom O’Hara)
Silence is difficult and entering silent prayer takes work.
It is good to remember that, in silent prayer, I am not in charge. God is in the driver’s seat, the destination is a mystery, so just buckle up and enjoy the ride.
There can be times when silent prayer does not work and it can feel more rewarding to use words.
They don’t have to be formal prayers, although sometimes these prayers do suit.
However, prayer can take the form of a chat, a chat with God as you would chat with a friend.
God loves you unconditionally, no strings attached.
Even though God knows your heart, thoughts and desires, God loves to hear from you, as any friend would. Chat with God. Tell him how your day is going, talk about your family, the things you are grateful for, your issues and concerns, your needs. Ask.
Jesus told us to ask, seek, knock. He even taught us to pray for our daily needs, through the Lord’s Prayer. He meant it; he wasn’t kidding around.
And in teaching us the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus gave us a model of the structure of prayer – worship and praise, acknowledgement of God’s will, petition (asking), confession, intercession and thanksgiving.
Prayer is a conversation with our Father in heaven. So, it is a matter of relationships, and when we pray the whole Trinity is involved – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The wise St Paul teaches that we should pray always and in all circumstances of our lives, with gratitude in our hearts.
Have a golden day and treasure life.
