An old proverb from experience says that „necessity” teaches a person to pray “. However technically and scientifically advanced our world is, situations occur in which we find ourselves powerless and at a loss. Let’s list only such facts as the announcement of the diagnosis of a malignant tumor or an earthquake, tsunami waves, armed conflicts, etc. It may seem to us who are raised under the influence of natural science thinking that turning to God in such and similar situations and waiting for help from him is unjustified. After all, the Lord God created the world and its laws and gave man free will. If he were to interfere in creating these realities, it would be a puppet show that doesn’t happen so much. And since everything is going according to the given laws anyway, even our prayer cannot change anything about it – which implies a simple conclusion that praying is useless.
However, this opinion is contradicted by the texts of the Holy Scriptures, which are read in the liturgy today. The Book of Esther captures the prayer of Queen Esther, who used it to prepare for a meeting with the Persian king. He gave full power to exterminate the Jews in his empire to the first minister. Esther is also Jewish, and her successful intervention with the king is the only hope of saving her and her nation. However, this event was also hazardous. Esther realizes that finding words that would affect the king is beyond her abilities. Even whether the king accepts her, as he decides, is not in her hands. Therefore, she prays and asks God to give her the right words and guide the king’s heart and decision in terms of saving the Jews.
From another text of the Book of Esther, we know that this intervention was successful, and in memory of this event, Jews still celebrate the Purim holiday. Jesus also encourages us to turn to the heavenly Father with absolute and persistent trust in today’s Gospel. He assures us that if we ask, we will receive: how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him.“ However, this guidance and reassurance of the Gospel may allude to the harsh reality of our experience. How often have we asked for God’s help in sickness or other danger? No salvation has come, and everything has gone with its inexorable regularity. On the other hand, there are also positive experiences. So how is it?
First, we must take seriously the laws of nature, our responsibility, and the Lord God and his omnipotence. This means doing everything in our power to manage the problem responsibly. On the other hand, however, we must realize that God is still omnipotent and that his action takes place on a different level than the laws of nature or human freedom. He can achieve his purpose without disrupting the laws of his creation or the freedom of man, and he will achieve his intentions precisely through these laws and this freedom.
However, Jesus’ assurance that the heavenly Father will give us „good things“ must also be considered. But these things are good from the point of view of God, who is full of goodness, wisdom, and love. However, this does not mean they must be “god” regarding our current feelings and understanding. We long for what we consider good. If it’s excellent, God will give it to us. If he doesn’t give us what we want, we must be sure he will give us something better.
The most potent example of this is in practice in Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. His human nature feels the impending suffering and death as something evil that he rejects that he fears, and he asks the Father to take away from him this cup of suffering. However, he adds: „ Not as I want, but as you.“ (Mt 26, 39) This request of Jesus remained seemingly unheard. He had to drink the cup of suffering to the bottom. However, Easter morning showed that the heavenly Father gave him much more: he gave him the strength to manage suffering in the spirit of love for God and people, resurrected his body for eternal life, and gave him all power in heaven and on earth. Through him, he opened the possibility for all of us to overcome death and achieve eternal life and resurrection. It follows that asking God with trust is essential. At the same time, however, it is necessary to trust in his wise and kind management and to be willing to accept his will as the best for us and others.
Practical instruction: I will confidently pray for God’s help for myself and others. At the same time, however, I will try to convey God’s helping love to my neighbors.
Prayer: Almighty God, we beg you, give us the right thoughts and resolutions and give us the willingness to act on them; and because we cannot exist without you, help us live according to your holy will, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who is God and lives and reigns with you in union with the Holy Spirit for all ages.
Hello. And Bye.