Daily reflection from the CPLO and the Jesuit Institute for 8 March 2022
Published: Mon, 03/07/22
“Prayer is being on terms of friendship with God, frequently conversing in secret with Him
Tuesday, 8 March 2022
“Prayer is being on terms of friendship with God, frequently conversing in secret with Him, who we know, loves us.”
~Pope Francis (homily 8 Jan 2015) ~
The desire to pray – to really pray is a gift from God. Not to say just words, but to enter into a meaningful encounter with God. But often, perhaps like the disciples, we feel a bit intimidated by the idea of prayer. We may know how to ‘say prayers’ but struggle to get beyond that to something that perhaps feels more connected.
St Ignatius encourages us to have a heart-to-heart conversation with God as “one friend speaks to another.” Most of us instinctively know what makes for a good friendship. Taking time together; talking about the things we both enjoy or care about; doing things together. And as the friendship grows, we disclose more things about ourselves. We trust enough to talk
about things that we may usually find too painful or embarrassing or too important or precious to talk about. We share our most personal thoughts and our deepest feelings with one another. It is safe to cry or express our anger or frustration in a close friendship. We can bring all of who we are to our time together. It feels safe to ask favours of the other, knowing that they will want to do all they can to help us. And we, in turn, want to do and give to our friend whatever we can. Friendship
is never one way – it is always mutual.
As William Barry says, our friendship with God is “a friendship like no other”, but it is a friendship. And one in which we can enjoy the gifts of ever-deepening connection and mutual sharing. Maybe it feels somewhat more challenging than our human relationships in one way because we can’t see and touch and hear the physical presence of Christ in the same way that
we can in our normal friendships. And yet, in many ways, it is easier because, unlike our human relationships, Jesus is always available to us in every moment.
• What is your friendship with the Lord like at the moment?
• What more do you hope for in the relationship?
• What do you sense God hopes for?
Lord,
Draw me deeper into friendship with you.
May prayer be a joyful time of meeting with you.
To share the joys, frustrations and griefs of my life,
and to listen to you as you make yours known to me.
