Father Matthew provides us with a reflection on how God answers our prayers. While Abram was blessed, he was still perplexed, and wondered who would inherit all that he had because he had no children. Abram's prayer was to have children. He couldn't believe God's response, and after his dialogue with God, Abram follows through on God's request by presenting his complete offering before God. Abram then waits, and God gives him a sign by burning the offering as an acceptance.
Advice from Jesus: When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases like the gentiles do. We need to avoid the trap of just going through the motions when we are praying. Father Matthew recounts a humourous time when he witnessed and participated in a "warp speed" Rosary prayer. We need to take our time, and we need to listen to the Lord in prayer. Let's avoid the immature "Santa Claus" prayer of simply asking for what we want. While there is nothing wrong with petitionary prayer, there also needs to be a relationship. Let's remember who we are speaking to, "Our Father, who art in heaven...". We praise God in our prayer, and that His will be done. We also ask for forgiveness and mercy. We ask that our prayers be authentic, and with words that we truly understand.
Whoever sows sparringly, will also reap sparringly. Whoever sows abundantly, will also reap undoubtedly. The level of our dedication will be comparable to what we get out of it. Think of an athlete wanting to compete at a high level. Think of students doing their homework. It applies to our friendships, and it applies to our faith. Our faith will either dwindle or blossom depending on the measure that we give. In the Our Father prayer, we think of the measure of mercy our Father gives to us being comparable to the mercy we show to those who trespass against us. Let us give gratitude and thanks to our Lord for His generosity towards us.
Your life does not consist of an abundance of possessions. We are to guard ourselves against all kinds of greed, and Jesus' advice is to not attach ourselves to things, but rather to detach ourselves, and to focus on generosity instead. It's not about what we can get out of it, but what we can give back to God, simply because it is right and just. God wants our hearts to be in love with Him above all things, and this is what our hearts were made for. Let's be generous and rich towards God.
