What is prayer? Part IV

“Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.” St John Damascene

When we see a beautiful sunset and whisper in our hearts, “Thank you, Lord” that is prayer.  When we get news that our grandmother has just been hospitalized and utter, “O Jesus, take care of her,” that is prayer.  When we look at a night sky brimming with bright stars and wonder at the immensity of God’s creation, that is prayer.  When we enjoy the cool water of a mountain lake in the heat of summer and recall those words of the Psalmist, “He leads me out to the cool water’s brink refreshed and content” (Psalm 22), that is prayer.  When we open the Bible and read, searching for a word that will speak to our hearts, that is prayer.  When we kneel at the consecration of the Mass and silently adore the presence of our Lord in the Eucharist, simply knowing that we need God and that he is here with us, that too is prayer.  Everything we do, everything we experience can become a prayer simply by throwing a glance to God into the midst of it.

Yours in Christ, Father John Bartunek, LC