While the centerpiece of the reading on this First Sunday of Lent are the temptations of Jesus in the desert, I would like to focus on St. Paul’s words to the Romans: “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” The question is, what does it mean to call upon the name of the Lord? I believe that Paul is speaking about prayer and strengthening our personal relationship with God.  

When the apostles come to Jesus and ask him to “teach us how to pray,” Jesus only gives one form of prayer. He talks about prayer of petition. He says, “seek, ask, knock,” and then he teaches them the Our Father. The Our Father is our Lord’s lesson on prayer and it is really made up of seven petitions. Shall we try it? Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 1) Thy kingdom come, 2) they will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 3) Give us this day our daily bread and 4) forgive us our trespasses, 5) as we forgive those who trespass against us. 6) Lead us not into temptation, 7) but deliver us from evil. 

A lot of us think that prayer of petition is something that is for children or not for the spiritually elite. We figure that it’s a second class prayer, maybe it is good for a starter, but to always say, “give me, give me, give me,” sounds self-serving. But Jesus is the one who recommends this prayer. So we should keep at it. We should keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. 

A lot of people say, “I ask, but my prayer doesn’t work.” But we know that prayer is mainly a relationship, like the ones we have with our friends or family. For example, a friend will visit you that you haven’t seen for a long time. You spend time with that friend. You might go out to lunch or go for a walk. You hang out together and catch up on the news of each other’s lives - it’s a relationship. And our relationship with Jesus is all we will take with us when we die. 

I think the best definition of prayer is given by St. Teresa of Avila. She says that prayer is spending time, frequently, with somebody who loves you. Those three elements: spending time, frequently, with someone who loves you, are the way we deal with all of our relationships. Time is the gauge. Not our feelings. Not the soft warm glow we might get. Anytime we want to increase a relationship with someone, we spend more time with them. If we want to decrease a relationship, we spend less time. If we want to end a relationship, we spend no time at all. So time is the gauge.

And it is good for us to ask because it is natural. We ask people for directions, we ask advice of doctors and professionals. Why not ask God? Ask because it is the only lesson that Jesus gives: ask, seek, knock. St. Alphonsus Liguori, the founder of the Redemptorists, says that prayer of petition is efficacious and it is essential for our salvation. 

Prayer of petition is probably the easiest prayer we can say. All of know how to ask - we have to keep asking. God is not deaf and we do not change God’s mind by asking. We need to ask because we need to realize that God is in control, we are not. In any prayer we say, God always takes the initiative. God begins the prayer in us. 

So the lesson for us as we begin our Lenten journey, is to keep praying. Be persistent in prayer. Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened for you. 

Lenten Peace,

Fr. Kevin MacDonald, C.Ss.R.