from Fr Bogdan
Sisters and Brothers,
Prayer is for many people a last resort. For many people to approach God is the last hope in their difficult moments. Maybe even some of us do the same. Whenever people have a problem or some trouble, they try their best to solve it. We talk to our families and friends, we ask our colleagues and neighbours. Sometimes they can help, sometimes they can find a great solution. But if others cannot support us, if we feel hopeless, if we cannot expect any better situation, we still have prayer. Prayer – our last resort.
But why is it the last? In fact, a prayer should be our first resort. In any trouble we should seek God’s assistance. And if we do pray, what do we ask for? For health? For peace? For money?
Today in the Gospel, St. Luke the evangelist tells us a story about Jesus and his disciples. We see apostles approaching Jesus and ask him to increase their faith. They did not ask for a better or easier life; they did not demand any favour or benefits for themselves. They simply asked to have a stronger faith. The apostles like many people of their time had personal problems or maybe problems with their families or friends. But they understood that as long as Jesus is with them, they do not have to worry.
They just needed faith; they needed to trust. The apostles knew very well that faith is like a mustard seed; it has to be watered, watered by prayer and hope. They remember very well the teaching of Jesus that even a little faith can move mountains or replant a tree. For Jesus’ disciples it was perfectly obvious that if they have faith, no trouble is too difficult, no problem is able to break them. For them, prayer was not a last resort, for them it was a first and natural way to maintain their lives.
We can hear the prayer of the apostles, and we can listen to Jesus’ answer. Reading this story, we should ask ourselves: what can we learn from it? What can we change in our lives? Maybe firstly, we can remember that when we pray, we should not just ask for a benefit for ourselves - do not demand an easy and sweet life. Secondly, like the apostles, we should pray to increase our faith, because with faith and trust in God nothing is too challenging, nothing can break us.
Finally, let us remember that prayer and our trust in God should not be the last resort. Let our faith help us to understand that God is our first help, our first solution.
Have a blessed week,
Fr. Bogdan
Prayer is for many people a last resort. For many people to approach God is the last hope in their difficult moments. Maybe even some of us do the same. Whenever people have a problem or some trouble, they try their best to solve it. We talk to our families and friends, we ask our colleagues and neighbours. Sometimes they can help, sometimes they can find a great solution. But if others cannot support us, if we feel hopeless, if we cannot expect any better situation, we still have prayer. Prayer – our last resort.
But why is it the last? In fact, a prayer should be our first resort. In any trouble we should seek God’s assistance. And if we do pray, what do we ask for? For health? For peace? For money?
Today in the Gospel, St. Luke the evangelist tells us a story about Jesus and his disciples. We see apostles approaching Jesus and ask him to increase their faith. They did not ask for a better or easier life; they did not demand any favour or benefits for themselves. They simply asked to have a stronger faith. The apostles like many people of their time had personal problems or maybe problems with their families or friends. But they understood that as long as Jesus is with them, they do not have to worry.
They just needed faith; they needed to trust. The apostles knew very well that faith is like a mustard seed; it has to be watered, watered by prayer and hope. They remember very well the teaching of Jesus that even a little faith can move mountains or replant a tree. For Jesus’ disciples it was perfectly obvious that if they have faith, no trouble is too difficult, no problem is able to break them. For them, prayer was not a last resort, for them it was a first and natural way to maintain their lives.
We can hear the prayer of the apostles, and we can listen to Jesus’ answer. Reading this story, we should ask ourselves: what can we learn from it? What can we change in our lives? Maybe firstly, we can remember that when we pray, we should not just ask for a benefit for ourselves - do not demand an easy and sweet life. Secondly, like the apostles, we should pray to increase our faith, because with faith and trust in God nothing is too challenging, nothing can break us.
Finally, let us remember that prayer and our trust in God should not be the last resort. Let our faith help us to understand that God is our first help, our first solution.
Have a blessed week,
Fr. Bogdan