Pope: we pray with faith, perseverance and courage and 'the Lord does not disappoint'
At Mass this morning, Francis invited people to pray for those who are suffering from the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus epidemic. “The Lord does not disappoint: he does not disappoint. He makes us wait, He takes His time, but He doesn't disappoint. Faith, perseverance and courage”.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Faith, perseverance and courage are needed in prayer and “the Lord does not disappoint: He does not disappoint. He takes His time, but He doesn't disappoint,” the Pope said at Mass in Santa Marta this morning, adding "in these days we need to pray, pray more".
Francis introduced the Mass, calling on people this morning to pray for those who are suffering from the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus epidemic that has brought production and services to a standstill.
“Let us pray today for those persons who are beginning to experience economic problems because of the pandemic, because they cannot work. All of this affects the family. We pray for those people who have this problem.”
During his homily, he spoke of the faith, perseverance and courage necessary to pray well.
Pope Francis reflected on the Gospel of the healing of the functionary’s son in Cana in Galilee (John 4:43-54). After asking Jesus to cure his son, “the Lord reproves him a bit – everyone – but him as well…. Instead of staying silent, the functionary continues, saying ‘Lord, come down before my child dies’ ”. He then receives the assurance from the Lord that his child would live, the Pope said.
Faith is the first requirement for “true prayer”, Pope Francis said.
“Many times prayer is only oral from the mouth…but it doesn't come from the faith in the heart, or it's a weak faith.”
The Pope then gave another example of the father whose child was possessed who asked the Lord to increase his faith, after Jesus tells him that everything is possible to those who have faith (Mark 9:23) .
“Faith and prayer; to pray with faith…. I pray either with faith or out of habit. Let's be attentive when we pray not to fall into routine, without the awareness that the Lord is here, that I'm speaking with the Lord and He is able to resolve problems.”
The second requirement, the Pope said, is perseverance. Jesus himself teaches us this, he said.
“Some people ask and then the grace doesn't come. They don't have this perseverance because deep down they don't need it or they don’t have faith”.
He then cited the parables in which Jesus teaches us perseverance: the person who woke up his neighbor in the middle of the night for bread, and the widow before the unjust judge.
“Faith and perseverance go together because if you have faith you're sure that the Lord will give you what you are asking. If the Lord makes you wait, knock and knock and knock. In the end the Lord gives the grace.”
If the Lord makes us wait, the Pope said, He does so “for our good”. “He takes prayer seriously”, Pope Francis said.
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