“Will you continue in the ... prayers?”

One of the most common questions people have about Christianity is this: “What good does prayer do?” I am fond of saying that prayer does more to change us than to change God. God is ultimately good and will do the right thing without our convincing. But are we convinced?

Prayer refocuses our busy minds on Jesus and his Gospel. Prayer reminds us that the Gospel, though it sounds ridiculous, is true and is operating everywhere in the universe right now.

Every day we hear that we must maintain a certain standard of living, a certain measure of success, a certain level of control over our future. But according to the Gospel, this is all bunk. We are saved through our death - not just in the big death that we are all inevitably subject to but also in every little death along the way.

Every time I allow myself to look foolish for the sake of being good to another person, I die and am reborn.

Every time I resist the urge to store up treasures for the sake of comfort, and instead think of someone besides myself, I die and am reborn.

Every time I try something spectacular and fail spectacularly, I die and am reborn.

Every time I am given the opportunity to cover up my mistakes but instead ’fess up, I die and am reborn.

Every time I delay gratification for a greater purpose, I die and am reborn.

Every time someone I love dies, I die and am reborn.

Every time I think I can’t go on, but I go on anyway, I die and am reborn.

Everything in our culture tells us to resist death – the big one, yes, and also all the little ones. But prayer will get us back on track. Through our prayers, may God grant us the courage to face the dying of the light.