Pope at Audience: ‘Every prayer
answered, in God’s time’
In his continuing catechesis on the Our Father at the weekly
General Audience, Pope Francis says no prayer goes unanswered, but reminds us
that God’s timing is not our own.
By Devin Watkins
Pope Francis took up the age-old question about why, at
times, it seems that God does not answer our prayers.
Speaking at the Wednesday General Audience, the Holy Father
said Jesus reminds us in the Our Father of the need to persevere in prayer.
Jesus’ constant prayer
The Pope said Jesus’ entire life was “steeped in prayer”.
“Every step of Jesus’ life was pushed by the breath of the Spirit, who guides
him in each of his actions.”
Pope Francis said this is most visible in the events of his
Passion. Jesus intercedes for Peter who will soon deny him. He prays for those
who crucified him. His last words are a confession of trust in the will of the
Father.
“Jesus’ prayer seems to cushion the most violent of emotions
– the desire for revenge and retaliation – and to reconcile us with our most
bitter enemy: death.”
God knows our needs
When the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray, the Pope
said he offers them the Our Father prayer.
Pope Francis said Jesus adds two parables after the prayer
that remind us to be constant in prayer and to trust unwaveringly that God will
answer our prayers.
One is the friend who importunes his neighbor for some bread
to offer a guest. Next, Jesus offers the example of a father who has a hungry
child: “What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a
fish?”
“Jesus lets us know that God always responds, that no prayer
goes unheard, and that God is a Father and never forgets His children who
suffer.”
Unanswered prayers?
Pope Francis said this truth seems as if it is not borne out
in our daily lives. “How many times have we asked and not received, knocked and
found a closed door?” he mused.
In those moments of seeming defeat, the Pope said Jesus
invites us “to insist and not to give up.”
“Prayer always transforms reality: if things around us do
not change, at least our hearts are changed. Jesus promised the gift of the
Holy Spirit to every man and woman who prays.”
In God’s time
Finally, Pope Francis said we can be absolutely positive
that “God will respond.”
The only uncertainty, he noted, regards God’s timing.
“Nothing is more certain: the desire for happiness we all
carry in our heart will be fulfilled.”
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