In Prayer

Feastof Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.  Ephesians 2:19-20

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.  Luke 6:12

Piety

Father, help us to feel at home where you dwell.  Jesus, your holy hospitality in the house with many rooms will make us like family.  Holy Spirit, help us extend the welcoming hand and heart to others as you have to us. Amen.

Study

Jesus sets the standard.  He sends us disciples and apostles; prophets and preachers; sages and rages and ages of teachers.  Through it all, Jesus is the gold standard.  When he prays about a decision, he does not spend an hour in Mass (sometimes arriving late and leaving early).  He really prays.  He puts his heart and soul and blood, sweat and tears into prayer.  Do we even put in one percent of such a prayer-effort before we make a decision?

No wonder that Isaiah said, “I am laying a stone in Zion, a stone that has been tested, a precious cornerstone as a sure foundation; whoever puts faith in it will not waver.”  (Isaiah 28:16)  And we learn in Revelation 21:14, “The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”  It all starts with the Lamb and it all comes back to the Lamb. 

Action

Once chosen, the story does not end there.  Not for Simon and Jude and not for you and I.  It took years for that lesson to sink in to the Apostles.  No matter how much they tried to stay in their “comfort zone,” Jesus pushed them out of the boat.  The congregation of one of my friends calls it the “Discomfort Zone.”  Jesus was in an excruciatingly discomfort zone on the cross.  He welcomes us up there to join him on a daily basis.

If we are shy, we are challenged to be outgoing.  If we are soft-spoken, we are challenged to preach with words.  Where is your “discomfort zone?”  How can you be a disciple in action if you never cross into that arena? Talk to Jesus about where the Lord wants you to go next.