Frank R. Fisher, Obl OSB
 
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"First of all, every time you begin a good work, you must pray to him most earnestly to bring it to perfection." - Prologue to the Rule of St. Benedict

Most of us want to do good things. A lot of us even try to do them. But I bet the vast majority of us, including me, forget to begin good works with prayer. When you think about that, it really seems amazing that we forget to pray like we do. Unfortunately I find lack of prayer in many churches. I have even chaired church boards who will debate the very future of their congregations willingly but who will object strenuously at the idea of bringing prayer into their deliberations. Note to members of my current congregation, I am not talking about you.

When I look inside myself, I have to admit I am equally guilty. All of this afternoon I have been working on my sermon for tomorrow. But I did not, until I began writing this blog entry, remember to stop and pray for God's guidance on the words I am writing. But I have stopped writing now to pray for our time of worship.

Being a Benedictine sure does not mean one is perfect. Being a Christian does not mean perfection either. There is only One who is perfect.  From now on I will earnestly endeavor to pray for at the start of any work for God's people. I pray you will too.
 


Comments

5FF

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:05:43

You know, I just did a search for a quote I'd heard several times in my life - something like that which does not begin with prayer will not be fruitful. I was thinking about it in relationship to my own current endeavors. How badly do I want my articles to be published, to be offered a great job opportunity, to stop smoking? It's so much easier to phone a friend and talk or complain about each one, but rarely do I sit down and talk to Him about my most heavy issues.

I'm proud to say that I have rarely asked God for anything, even when I've been in need. When I lost my job in the winter, I thanked God for my warm apartment and a refrigerator full of food and for not being sick or homeless. So I'm not the type to turn to God only when in need; I'm more often thanking him for the simple abundance of my life.

But I love what you wrote and it deserves some serious contemplation by me this evening before I go to sleep. It's not enough to send up one eager prayer, say Amen and then forget about it. Those areas of my life which I want to be fruitful and abundant must begin with heartfelt and earnest prayer, continuously, even when I do not yet see the abundance I desire in any area.

Thank you for reminding me and for a short but thoughtful piece. I Tweeted this and hope other take the time to read it. It just may be the ah-ha moment for them, too.

 



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