Daily Retreat 02/23/09
2009 Feb 23 Mon: Polycarp, bp, mt M
Sir 1: 1-10/ Ps 92(93): 1ab. 1cd-2. 5/ Mk 9: 14-29
From today’s readings: “All wisdom comes from the LORD and with Him it remains forever, and is before all time.... The Lord is king; He is robed in majesty.... I do believe, help my unbelief!”
Paradoxical Prayers
In addition to the “Our Father” and other beloved prayers from Sacred Scripture, there are a number of short supplications found in the Bible which so perfectly express cries of the human heart. For instance, after His Transfiguration, Jesus encountered a man who begged Him to heal his possessed son. When Jesus assured the man that all things are possible for the one who believes, the man cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief!”
This paradoxical prayer is a simple act of faith, and simultaneously, a desperate plea to be bolstered in faith! It’s the perfect prayer, then, for those many times in our lives when we find ourselves faced with problems, worries, preoccupations, and everything else that’s too big to handle on our own. Assuredly, we do believe in God, but we also have occasional chinks in the armor of our faith which must be addressed. And so, this pithy prayer:
“I do believe! Help Thou my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)
Sir 1: 1-10/ Ps 92(93): 1ab. 1cd-2. 5/ Mk 9: 14-29
From today’s readings: “All wisdom comes from the LORD and with Him it remains forever, and is before all time.... The Lord is king; He is robed in majesty.... I do believe, help my unbelief!”
Paradoxical Prayers
In addition to the “Our Father” and other beloved prayers from Sacred Scripture, there are a number of short supplications found in the Bible which so perfectly express cries of the human heart. For instance, after His Transfiguration, Jesus encountered a man who begged Him to heal his possessed son. When Jesus assured the man that all things are possible for the one who believes, the man cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief!”
This paradoxical prayer is a simple act of faith, and simultaneously, a desperate plea to be bolstered in faith! It’s the perfect prayer, then, for those many times in our lives when we find ourselves faced with problems, worries, preoccupations, and everything else that’s too big to handle on our own. Assuredly, we do believe in God, but we also have occasional chinks in the armor of our faith which must be addressed. And so, this pithy prayer:
“I do believe! Help Thou my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)
posted by FrPitstick | 2/22/2009
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