March 13: Prayer

We join with the Church throughout the world today in celebrating the anniversary of election of Pope Francis in 2013. “O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Francis, whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd. Grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life. Please grant him continued recovery from poor health and safeguard him now and always, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, for ever and ever. Amen.”

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One of the more obscure (and less-familiar) books of the Bible is the Book of Esther. The daily Mass today offers a reading from the fourth chapter of the Book (4, 29-42). Her story illustrates this promise: “Ask and you shall receive.”

At Esther’s prayer, God saved her people from mortal danger. Because her people’s future was in crisis, she had to risk going to the Persian king on their behalf, which she knew could cost her her life, yet to do nothing but hide in her privileged ivory tower while her people were destroyed, would leave her haunted with guilt all her days. She knew what was right and just and she serves as an inspiration for all of us today who are prone to simply turn a blind eye when a risky action is called for.

Esther prayed: “My Lord, our king, you alone are God. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you.” Occasions of prayer like Esther’s lead to experiences of heightened and deepened prayer and such prayers are bound to be heard, because they put us in touch with the best and deepest part of ourselves. More importantly, they open us up to our loving Creator – whose plan is to lead us into the fullness of His life. One of Lent’s greatest challenges is to learn to place no conditions on what God can accomplish in u