Reflection for Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Today's readings are here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011312.cfm

The four men who carry the paralytic in today's Gospel teach us the importance of persistence in prayer.  They try to bring the paralytic to Jesus but cannot because of the large crowd; so they climb the house, dig a hole in the roof, and lower the paralytic to Jesus.


I think there are times in our lives when Jesus does not answer our prayers right away (his timing is always best) to see if we will persist or if we will become discouraged and cease seeking good things from him.  In addition, our relationship with him can be increased during these times of waiting.


There are two types of favors we can ask of our Lord.  First, we can ask him to do something for us (or for others) we know is his will because he has revealed it in Scripture or in the Tradition of the Church.  For example, if we ask the Lord to increase the love in our lives, we know he will answer this because it is his will that we live in love.  Second, we can ask Christ to do something that we do not know whether or not it is his will for us.  For example, if we ask the Lord to work it out so that we are offered a job for which we interviewed, we do not know whether or not it is his will for us to have the job.  In these cases, we should ask Christ to give us the job if it is his will for us to have it.  We have to submit our will to his with the knowledge that his will is always best for us.


May Christ teach us to pray always and never to give up.