Jesus said, “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?” 

Even as Elizabeth Jordan in the Christian movie "War Room" discovered a prayer-life, she continued to have problems with her husband. Her husband Tony paid little attention to their marriage or their daughter, was close to having an affair, and further, he brought serious financial problems to their marriage when he was fired from his job because he was embezzling from his employer. As he hit "rock bottom," he noticed Elizabeth's loving attitude toward him and their problems, and at the same time, discovered Elizabeth's "prayer room" in their house. He became curious, and finally adopted a prayer-life for himself, bringing him back to a true understanding of what a marriage and family should be.

If there is one passage from Jesus' discourses that gives the most hope, but also brings about the most negative thoughts, it is probably the passage in which Jesus extols the necessity to use petitionary prayer. He tells us to ask, seek and knock on the door of God by putting forth our desires. Good Christians will do what Jesus says, but often the prayer is not answered the way they want which causes many to despair and give up on God and therefore religion itself.

To understand petitionary prayer completely however, we must listen closely to the second part of Jesus' directive to pray. He tells us that God knows more than we do, and therefore, even though we think we know the answer to our prayer, God knows the best answer. God will not give us something that eventually will harm us. And, further, God will always give the Holy Spirit to those who ask, that is, God will always direct them to good.

Many will criticize therefore movies like "War Room" because God answers Elizabeth's prayers directly--in exactly the way that Elizabeth wanted. Tony turned his life around, and "they lived happily ever after." God agreed with what Elizabeth prayed for: Tony finally made use of the graces that he was given. But it is important to see that if Tony had not turned his life around, it is still true to say that Elizabeth's prayer was answered. It made her more holy; and even if Tony did not change, he had to recognize how much Elizabeth really loved him, and the like. That is, the Holy Spirit will always direct people toward the good.

The point is that God will always answer petitionary prayer in some way. God will always give the graces necessary for people to follow the directives of God. Prayer is for us, not for God. Our prayer is that we will change as we understand that the people are being given God's graces. And in the process, we will become better. God will always pay attention to our prayers, and if we are truly sincere, we will change in the process as we hope that others use the graces that God gives.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, help us understand how our prayer of petition is necessary for ourselves and for the people or situations for which we are praying. Be with us, we pray. 

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©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America