When I was teaching in high school, in my second assignment. We would often spend time in prayer before we tackled a sensitive subject. The idea was to open hearts and minds, but something else happened, the students changed almost imperceptibly. Just time in prayer is efficacious for our souls. To spend time talking to our creator, not pridefully, but honestly, changes us. For those students who were constantly building up and tearing down their reality, a moment of reflection was a respite offering something this world cannot give: peace.

God hears our prayers. We need to work on listening, but that is what a lifetime of relationship is for – to tune our hearts and minds to God. Our Scriptures this weekend talk about how we pray and that honesty and humility need to be the framework of our prayers. There is no one judging the eloquence or length of prayers, so don’t get hung up on not having the right words to say when you are frustrated or in awe. Just be with God in that moment.

While I no longer think we have a problem with making ourselves spectacles of piety, we very much have the opposite problem, we don’t want to stand out at all. Our world needs your witness. Secular culture is crying out in need, it is longing to see God in the lives of those you encounter. Our witness should not be from a distance. This culture has enough virtue signaling, but in the only way that love is shown in relationship. Our challenge is to strengthen ourselves through scripture, prayer and fellowship in order to be ready to talk about our faith in Jesus when hearts and minds are receptive.

May the Love, Peace and Grace of God be with you,

Fr. Adam