Prayer power

One of the traditional Lenten observances of prayer, almsgiving and fasting is brought to mind by the texts of the Roman CatholicLectionary today. The power of prayer is a phrase worth some meditation. The passage from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah tells of the certainty with which the Word of God accomplishes the reality of which it is the creation. The understanding that the Word is the essence of creation and salvation for believers is rooted in Genesis where the Word became the universe and in the Gospel where the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Our prayer often involves words. We seek to be servants like Jesus of the Word and will of God. Our memory is a vital tool of prayer. As we remember the goodness of God, like the psalmist today, we see some of the pattern of protection for those in communion with God and we hear the never ending message to continue to bring His love, compassion and forgiveness to others. One powerful starter in prayer is the Word of the Gospel from Matthew known as the Lord ’s Prayer. In a few verses it positions us relative to the Divine and opens our need to be in harmony with the Will of God from which will come our daily life and the transformation of our spirit to be the forgiveness and charity for which we pray.