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Dear Parishioners,
The first of our series entitled, “I know mine and mine know me,” is focused on prayer. Every true and active relationship with God begins and ends with prayer. You might say, “How can we pray if we don’t have a relationship with God?” Remember, we were made by God, for God. God made us for the very purpose of being in relationship with him—that we may be one, just as the Father is one with the Son and the Holy Spirit. Prayer is simply the opening of the mind and heart to God. Every culture in every time and place discovered God as naturally as walking and loving their own children.
Prayer in its perfect sense opens the door between God and us. Jesus knocks, and waits for us to open the door so that we may come out to meet him. Prayer is the necessary first step because it’s our decision to respond to God; to be with him and to be transformed by his presence. Prayer is our decision to remain in him; hence the manifestation of prayer is faithfulness. Prayer may have many requests of our Lord, but it is not prayer if God is being used like a bad relationship. We are deceived if self-righteousness enters our prayer and the spirit we draw close to becomes our own and not God’s spirit.
We will not be drawn to prayer if we are not willing to let go of the sin in our lives. The Holy Spirit is most effective in our lives when speaking to our consciences. The Holy Spirit will not let us go on sinning. Hence, we withdraw from God when we are in sin. If we say, “we do not have a conscience,” or “we do not hear God speaking to our hearts,” then we do not belong to him. It is better for us to cry out for mercy in our disobedience than to deny the Holy Spirit.
Remember, God needs no convincing. Little needs to be said to God beyond “I love you Lord, help me to love you more,” then listen and respond to his voice as he speaks in the silence of your heart.
Peace and Love,
Fr. Ralph
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