Tuesday, September 7, 2021

 

Tuesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

 (Colossians 2:6-15; Luke 6:12-19)

 It has been said that in Luke’s gospel Jesus prays before every significant event.  In today’s passage he prays before choosing the twelve apostles.  One wonders of the efficacy of his prayer, however.  How could he have made the mistake of choosing a man like Judas?

God listens to prayers.  He takes care of those who confide in him.  He will bring them to a good end.  Yes, Judas will betray Jesus.  His treachery will lead to Jesus’ death on the cross.  But this in not the end of Jesus.  God the Father breaks the bonds of death so that Jesus rises from the dead.  Just as marvelously, God saves us.  By Jesus’ crucifixion and death our sins are forgiven, and we too are set on the path to eternal life.

Let us not be timid about naming our fears and frustrations when we pray.  God will turn them into benefits for us and others.  The effects of prayer are not usually seen instantaneously. We often have to stand there with bleeding knuckles as we knock at God’s door with prayer.