Am I missing the purpose of prayer?

[mrigoli]

This is a copy of a letter that I wrote to a local newspaper’s religion writer after she had an article about prayer. She never wrote back so in my quest for answers I will post it here in hopes that you can help:

*Your recent article about prayer has enticed me to write this e-mail in hopes that you would be able to provide some insight. My father recently passed away after a yearlong battle with cancer. During that time, I, along with a great many others, prayed for his healing and recovery. Obviously this did not occur but rather he weakened and his condition grew worse with each passing day. Towards the end I changed my prayer request from healing to a peaceful passing and end to his suffering. The latter was granted. The experience started me thinking about the power of prayer in general. I thought of the war in Iraq, children around the world suffering and dying of hunger and disease and a host of other plagues that befall our planet on a daily basis. I then thought of the sheer volume of people who pray for an end to these situations with no success. I now must ask, what does it take for God to answer a prayer and grant the request?

• Is the the volume/number of people asking for a request to be granted?
• Is it the type of people praying, do the pious have more success than a sinner?

I know that these are not the factors that God takes into account, but in desperation for answers these were the thoughts that came to mind. Then my thoughts became darker and less optimistic:

• Does God not have the power to grant prayer requests? (What of the scripture John 15:7?)
• Can God use people to grant the prayer requests of others? (Free will? Can God use people, willing or unwilling, to answer prayer, to move in the lives of others, etc?)
• Does God simply choose not to answer requests?
• Does God have a master plan that would not be consistent with various prayer requests? if so, does a master plan not equate itself with predestination?
• What if two people have conflicting prayer requests, perhaps something as simple as one needing rain and the other needing sunshine, or something more menacing, such as two foes in battle praying to God for their success and the defeat of their foe?

Am I missing the purpose of prayer? I began to read some references to Merton which lead me to believe that may be the case. Is the purpose of prayer to not ask for things or for intervention but something deeper and spiritual and personal? But then I am lead back to John 15:7. Is this scripture reference misinterpreted?

Any insights that you may have would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

First of all, you are only writing about the prayer of petition. The most basic form of prayer is that of adoration or worship; simply acknowledging God’s goodness—which flows into the prayer of thanksgiving. There is also the prayer of contrition; an expression of sorrow for one’s sins.

The prayer of petition requires faith and trust in the Lord’s love for us. I think it would be helpful think a five-year-old asking his father for the kinds of things that five-year-olds want. Some things are good for him and some are not. Even though, he doesn’t know the difference, his father does and loves him too much to give him what would be harmful to him. The fact the father gives his child attention and listens to his requests is an act of love—as is his waiting and providing for other needs that the child is not even aware of—rather granting a request which would be harmful. God knows far more about what we need than even a dutiful parent does. He always answers our request with His love and always in a way that best suits us.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.