Place of prayer-motivation

Place of prayer – motivation

31. Catechesis April 2019

                Today I invite you to reflect on the motivation for proxy prayer. Our injured sinful nature brings us more to comfort. Why, no need, just enough, I don’t want to … and such temptations often take us away from strength. Maybe when we are still interested in something, we are willing to conquer. But how difficult it is to overcome something that we know is in our favor, but it takes effort or is unpleasant – to go to confession, to adoration, to go to a preventive examination, to do sports, to learn a language. These are all things that would please us if we had already done it. Just to force it … And suddenly, there is the issue of representation? Why should I sacrifice myself for someone?

                Father Hieronymus in his book Hot Coals describes this dilemma as follows:

“The way to paradise is made by the heavenly buses of the good Lord God, without them we would never have reached our destination. Several buses are reserved for God’s friends, but the long-haul column is made up of wagons carrying others. The seats in these other buses are free, but you have to pay for tickets on the buses of God’s friends at a high price. The worst thing about the whole thing is that God’s friends do not pay for their place only once, but ten or even twenty times. Now and then, the Lord goes on a bus to ask for more and more charges from passengers. Finally, God’s friends will understand that increased fare must also be paid for others, that is, those who ride a long column for free. But when they have to pay for the twentieth time, they begin to complain to the Lord, but their protest is just as open as they are aware that they are not paying for the last time. Those who take on the role of substitution are in the same position ‘.

This text is magnanimous and well captures the dilemma of each one who has chosen to live for others. Is my suffering a tax for loyalty to God? But then it is better to be the only one to carry! After all, they could do the same thing as me, why should I bear the fare of others, and they still have fun with me? With these questions, the bad man can really erode us. These are the poisonous snakes that attacked the Israelites and killed many. They are also attacking us, and they can kill the desire to follow God. We often need to go through this test. Accepting a sacrifice for your children is no problem. Naturally, we perceive that the parent is responsible for them and that is why they try to give them the best. But what if I get hurt from getting away from the other side of my marriage that I long for? What if he left me? He enjoys it and I worry about loneliness? What if a colleague or subordinate who should help to facilitate my work “drinks blood”? What if the priest, who should be a supportive, encouraging, pointed to the merciful Father, is immature and his sermons rather kill me? Ideally – when we are relaxed in spiritual well-being and full of the Spirit – we have no problem in overcoming ourselves. But what about the hustle and bustle of everyday life, when we are flushed, and we expect help, are we still supposed to pay for who should help us?

The answer to this question cannot be given once and for all. The answer must be given every day. Because the answer I gave yesterday is not enough today. Today I need to decide again, to motivate. Sometimes it is a harder decision, sometimes easier. What helps us do that? Two things. Meditation on death and sight of the cross.

We know that everyone dies once, but we don’t always take it seriously. But once we think about the horror of damnation, we realize that the evil we have suffered from that person is totally negligible compared to the evil that awaits him if he does not repent. Let’s imagine that we would live in a time of World War II. The tavern, a Jew whose father drank every night, is threatened to be taken to a gas concentration camp. As long as we don’t know where they’re taking it, we may even be relieved to say they’ll take it, at least my father won’t drink anymore. (Although the reality is that he will find his way to alcohol anyway) Well as soon as I know what his destiny will be, I realize immediately – this is not! And I’ll try to save him. In the immediate danger of life, we are willing to rise above our injuries and save. That is exactly how sinners are in danger to life. They, too, are God’s children, and Christ died for them, too, they could be encouraged and empowered, and they could also get on the bus where there are God’s friends who pay tickets for others. There is hope, only to help them.

The second aid is the view of the cross. Just as the Israelites saved the sight of the copper snake, so does the sight of the cross. Why did He decide to pay my travel expenses? Why didn’t He ask if I deserved it? Why did He not consider being or not? Sir, what do you deserve to have died for me? So, why don’t I have the courage to follow you? Why do I think, as a man for whom the king has forgiven 10,000 talents, that I only need time and will give you everything back? I realize what would have been with me without you?