Pray Always Without Becoming Weary

The story we just heard in the gospel is a parable. A parable is a factitious story that discloses a deeper meaning. It is a metaphor. This parable really has nothing to do with judges or plaintiffs. It has to do with prayer. And the main idea is summed up with the first statement of the gospel, “…pray always without becoming weary.”

This statement reminds me of a book I read a number of years ago called, “The Way of a Pilgrim.” It was written by an anonymous Russian author in the 19th century. The story tells of a poor young man who goes to church one Sunday and hears a homily about “…praying always without becoming weary.”

The young man is intrigued by the concept but has no idea how to begin. He wonders how anyone can continuously pray and not grow weary. So he decides to go on a journey to discover how this is done.

As he travels, he encounters many challenges. Then one day he comes across an old man who is a spiritual leader. This man teaches the young pilgrim a very simple prayer. The young man learns the simple prayer and says it frequently. 

We can follow the pilgrims example by saying even a simpler prayer. When a positive event occurs, or a beautiful sight is seen, or a friends is met, simply, quietly pray, “Thank you Jesus.” When a problem arises, or a difficult situation occurs, simply pray, “Help me Jesus.” When we hear of the cares of others simply pray, “Help them, Jesus.” And pray by frequently, simply saying, “I love you Jesus.”

While praying constantly the pilgrim grows in his life of prayer. He begins to be more open to the promptings of Jesus, and to see joy and wonder wherever he goes. He discovers the different meanings and methods of prayer as his prayer life continues.

As this young man began his journey of being a person of prayer, so we begin. It starts with prayers that are comfortable, and – if we allow the space and time for God to change us – our life of prayer begins to change and grow, and so do we. 

But we must not think that petition is the only form of prayer. As Fr. David Steindl-Rast, the author and monk from New York, writes: “I remember a mother who reminded her little son to say his good-night prayer. He said to her: ‘Mama, you know, there are nights when I don't need anything.’ Many people think this way. They only start to pray when they want something.” And sometimes what we want are not things of Jesus but are things of vanity, and then we wonder why our prayers are not answered.

A number of years ago, while I was stationed at another parish, a man approached me after Mass and told me of some challenges in his life. As our conversation drew to a close I said that I would include him in my prayers. 

He then responded, “Oh, that prayer thing. I don’t believe in it. I never get what I want. If prayer really worked I would have the money of Bill Gates and I would look like Brad Pitt!”

Talk about vanity.

Prayer starts with a commitment to simplicity, not vanity. We need the commitment of the young pilgrim. He commits to saying simple prayers throughout the day: “I love you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Help me, Jesus. Help others, Jesus” 

To say Jesus’ name takes but a second. It can be said anytime, anywhere. If we do it often throughout the day, the day goes better, we feel better, and our attitude becomes more positive. Our problems will not magically fade away, but we will be able to face them with more strength and optimism.

G. K. Chesterton, the British writer and theologian, wrote a series of books based on a fictional character called Fr. Brown, a priest and an amateur detective. These book are some of my favorites. In the stories Fr. Brown has a parish secretary named Mrs. McCarthy. Many, many times, when she finds herself in one of the unique situations in which Fr. Brown has led her, she simply says, “Jesus, Mary and Joseph,” not taking the Lord’s name in vain, but as a prayer. She calls on the name of the Lord. Throughout our day we can do the same. We can “pray always without becoming weary.”

Jesus is gentle, forgiving and loving. Jesus never abandons us. But we can abandon Jesus when we don’t call on his name. By calling on his name we build a stronger relationship with Jesus.

Fr. Anselm Grun, the Benedictine Monk and author from Germany writes: “… something very intimate happens through prayer.” As we become more practiced at prayer we begin to have a deeper awareness of the presence of Jesus in our daily lives. 

Prayer gives us the strength and gives us our purpose for the journey. As Br. Casey Cole, the  Franciscan author, writes: “…we need to always remain hopeful for the future, and plan for it in a sense that we will be open to the new possibilities that God may provide in this present moment during prayer.”

 There is a Facebook post making the rounds that sums this up well. It goes: “Once a man was asked, ‘What did you gain by regularly praying to God?’ The man replied, ‘Nothing … but let me tell you what I lost: anger, ego, greed, depression, insecurity, and fear of death.’” Sometimes the answer to our prayer is not gaining but losing; which is ultimately the greatest gain.

Through the deeper awareness of Jesus we begin to understand more deeply the purpose of our lives. By prayer we allow Jesus to be present to us and for us to be present to Jesus. Then the true process of praying always without becoming weary begins, and we begin to learn and discover that in all we say, do, think and live can be prayer. Then we can begin, like the pilgrim, to see joy and opportunity wherever we go and we become open to the promptings of Jesus.

So let us pray without becoming weary. So let us pray:

“I love you, Jesus.” 

“Thank you, Jesus.”

“Help us, Jesus.”