Asking, seeking and knocking

Our action group meeting (AGM) last Feb 7, 2011 was hosted by Ate Erma and Kuya Ben Sangco.  As prayer leader, Kuya Ben introduced and dealt the theme, “faith without action is dead”.  Prayer is basically the simple and sure action for our faith to be alive.

In a related passion, our Feb 21, 2011 AGM was providentially a continuation because our prayer leader discerned the Gospel according to St. Matthew (Mt 7:7-11) for our reflection.  Ate Helen and Kuya Ed Lanticse hosted our meeting at their Universal Shipping Management Services office.  With Kuya Ed leading, we came to the realization that “Our Father in Heaven gives good things to those who ask Him.”

I learn that “asking, seeking and knocking have an effect on God, as Jesus insists, but it also has a lasting effect in the asker-seeker-knocker”.  Moreover, “prayer offers an opportunity for God to remodel us, to chisel marble like a sculptor, touch up colors like an artist, edit words like a writer.  The work continues until death, never perfected in this life” (Yancey. Prayer: Does it make a difference? p. 154).

Significantly noted on the occasion of the 25^th Anniversary of EDSA Peaceful Revolution (Feb 25, 2011) is Philip Yancey’s claim that “Filipinos prayed importunately for relief before People Power brought down a corrupt regime”.

A lot of references give us insights on how to pray.  The Gospels according to St. Matthew (Mt 6:7-15); St. Mark (Mk 11:23-26) and St. Luke (Lk 11:1-13) teach about the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father that require faith, forgiveness and purity of desire, consistency and perseverance.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) likewise abound in teachings about prayer. For those who may have not been able to allocate a time with the Lord may consider and note that “Our time is in the Hands of God:  It is possible to offer fervent prayer even while walking in public or strolling alone, or seated in your shop, . . while buying or selling, .. . or while cooking” (CCC 2743).  Stated in another manner, prayer can be done in a ”Martha way to be Mary”.  It is doing the household chores and sitting to listen to Jesus at the same time.

This points us to prayer and temperament.  Kathy Calahan-Howell as cited by Yancey (Prayer. pp 194-195) enumerated four (4) meditation styles:

Ø  Intuitive feelers stress creative exercises involving imagination, imagery and journaling.

Ø  Intuitive thinkers benefit from a Scripture passage asking basic investigative concerns.

Ø  Sensory judges driven by duty use the senses to see, hear, and smell the scenes of Scripture bringing ancient truths to modern application.

Ø  Sensory perceivers engage action in prayer.  In my case, while planting and doing all farm activities, I always associate the Lord asking Him to allow me to see the fruits of my labor.  No matter how tiresome the activity maybe or how long the waiting to take before reaping because I am dealing with perennial crops and planting forest trees, I am always delighted and light-hearted because I pray the “Martha way to be Mary”.  nmg