Prayer time

The story is told about a father who told his son: “Son, I am sorry if I was a bit too hard and harsh on you whenever I disciplined you when you were young. I remember you never answered back. You just locked yourself up in the toilet and cried.”

“Yes, I remember too, Dad. The toilet was my refuge. And I’m sorry too, Dad, for using your toothbrush to clean the toilet whenever I was inside,” was the son’s reply.

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In today’s Gospel (Mk. 1, 29-39) we learn Jesus’ secret refuge:  “Rising very early before dawn, He left and went off to a deserted place, where He prayed.”  In the thick of grinding sparks and flashbulbs, Jesus did not miss candle glow moments with His Father. He knew how to retreat, recharge and renew in prayer.

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Someone once said that Satan cannot make you sin, he will just make you very busy until you can no longer pray, and that, for him, is already a victory. Our biggest downfall is when we no longer take time nor make time to pray because we are too busy. Prayer time is prime time!

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Jesus’ whole life was a constant letting go and letting God. He did not, so to say, sit on His laurel’s, nor did He bask in His fame and popularity. He moved on to other villages to do His mission.  And He moved out from the crowd and even from His disciples when it was time for Him to commune with His Father in prayer. Without prayer, we begin to move out from our true center.  Prayer makes us focused, brings us back to what is basic, and removes from us illusions and delusions.

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Every night, many of us charge our cell phone batteries before we sleep.  If only we were as steadfast and conscientious in charging ourselves in prayer at the day’s end!  Also, many of us are so religious in taking our morning coffee and in getting our morning updates from the newspaper, radio or TV.  If only we were as religious in spending some time for prayer and meditation at the day’s beginning!

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On a personal note, I always begin and end my day with prayer. The first moments after I wake up are spent on my knees in prayer. The last moments before I sleep are also spent on my knees in prayer. When we kneel, we know who we are, and we know who God is. When we bend our knees, everything falls into place.

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Let me share with you my favorite prayer:  “Jesus, I trust in you. Mama Mary, I love you!”  Say this prayer with so much trust and with so much love, and you will experience peace.  It is such a simple, but an assuring prayer.

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Rurick Santos, brother Fr. RJ Santos, SVD, our Filipino missionary working in Japan, texted me last Jan. 30, 2012, how he whispered the prayer “Jesus, I trust in you. Mama Mary, I love you” into the ears of his brother Regnault who was unconscious due to multiple stroke and heart attack.  He held his hand and just kept repeating the prayer. Lo and behold, the next day, Regnault was conscious. He was even singing.  And he will be discharged from the hospital this week.  Yes, prayer is powerful!

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When I was younger, I thought I could “fix” things, and get things done with sheer wisdom or hard work.  Older now, and hopefully wiser, I know that there are a lot of things I can’t fix, so I just say to the Lord: “Help! I can’t fix it.  Please fix it for me. Amen.”

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February 11 is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.  It is also the World Day for the Sick.  We express our solidarity, and we offer our prayer for those who need physical, emotional and even spiritual healing. We pray also for those who are involved in the care and support of the physically, emotionally and spiritually sick.

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Those who go through any form of sickness or illness experience God in a very real way.  Moments of sickness are moments of tremendous grace. Yes, in everything that happens in our lives, there is a reason.  And there is a mission.

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“My suffering is my offering.”  May those who go through any form of suffering find meaning and comfort in the thought that they can suffer vicariously for others, i.e., their sufferings can become a source of tremendous blessings for others.

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Remember the cartoon character Popeye?  Remember how he becomes strong whenever he eats his spinach?  Remember his song?  “I’m strong to the finish, ‘cause I eat my spinach, I’m Popeye the sailor man!”  Let Popeye remind us that we need prayer to keep us strong, and we can defeat whatever “Brutus” that comes our way if we know how to pray.

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Please be reminded that when you get too busy and it seems that everyone is looking for you, don’t forget that the Lord is also looking for you!  Something is wrong, something will go wrong if you become too busy and you put God on the side and at the periphery.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, remind me to make prayer time prime time of my life.  Amen.