Wednesday, July 31, 2013
538. In the Old Testament, what relationship do the king and the temple have to prayer?
(Comp 538) The prayer of the People of God developed in the shadow of the dwelling
place of God – the Ark of the Covenant, then the Temple – under the guidance of
their shepherds. Among them there was David, the King “after God’s own heart,”
the shepherd who prayed for his people. His prayer was a model for the prayer
of the people because it involved clinging to the divine promise and a trust
filled with love for the One who is the only King and Lord.
“In brief”
(CCC 2594) The prayer of
the People of God flourished in the shadow of the dwelling place of God's
presence on earth, the ark of the covenant and the Temple, under the guidance
of their shepherds, especially King David, and of the prophets.
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 2578) The prayer of
the People of God flourishes in the shadow of God's dwelling place, first the
ark of the covenant and later the Temple. At first the leaders of the people -
the shepherds and the prophets - teach them to pray. The infant Samuel must
have learned from his mother Hannah how "to stand before the LORD"
and from the priest Eli how to listen to his word: "Speak, LORD, for your
servant is listening" (1 Sam 3:9-10; cf. 1:9-18). Later, he will also know
the cost and consequence of intercession: "Moreover, as for me, far be it
from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; and I
will instruct you in the good and the right way" (1 Sam 12:23). (CCC 2579)
David is par excellence the king "after God's own heart," the
shepherd who prays for his people and prays in their name. His submission to
the will of God, his praise, and his repentance, will be a model for the prayer
of the people. His prayer, the prayer of God's Anointed, is a faithful
adherence to the divine promise and expresses a loving and joyful trust in God,
the only King and Lord (Cf. 2 Sam 7:18-29). In the Psalms David, inspired by
the Holy Spirit, is the first prophet of Jewish and Christian prayer. The
prayer of Christ, the true Messiah and Son of David, will reveal and fulfill
the meaning of this prayer.
Reflection
(CCC 2580) The Temple of
Jerusalem, the house of prayer that David wanted to build, will be the work of
his son, Solomon. The prayer at the dedication of the Temple relies on God's
promise and covenant, on the active presence of his name among his People,
recalling his mighty deeds at the Exodus (1 Kings 8:10-61). The king lifts his
hands toward heaven and begs the Lord, on his own behalf, on behalf of the
entire people, and of the generations yet to come, for the forgiveness of their
sins and for their daily needs, so that the nations may know that He is the
only God and that the heart of his people may belong wholly and entirely to
him.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
537. How did Moses pray? (part 2 continuation)
537. How did Moses pray? (part 2 continuation)
(Comp 537 repetition) The prayer of Moses was typical of contemplative prayer. God, who called
to Moses from the burning bush, lingered in conversation with him often and at
length, “face to face, like a man with his friend” (Exodus 33:11). In this
intimacy with God, Moses attained the strength to intercede tenaciously for his
people: his prayer thus prefigured the intercession of the one mediator, Christ
Jesus.
“In brief”
(CCC 2593) The prayer of
Moses responds to the living God's initiative for the salvation of his people.
It foreshadows the prayer of intercession of the unique mediator, Christ Jesus.
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 2576) "Thus the
Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend"
(Ex 33:11). Moses' prayer is characteristic of contemplative prayer by which
God's servant remains faithful to his mission. Moses converses with God often
and at length, climbing the mountain to hear and entreat him and coming down to
the people to repeat the words of his God for their guidance. Moses "is
entrusted with all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly, not in
riddles," for "Moses was very humble, more so than anyone else on the
face of the earth" (Num 12:3,7-8).
Reflection
(CCC 2577) From this
intimacy with the faithful God, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love
(Cf. Ex 34:6), Moses drew strength and determination for his intercession. He
does not pray for himself but for the people whom God made his own. Moses
already intercedes for them during the battle with the Amalekites and prays to
obtain healing for Miriam (Cf. Ex 17:8-12; Num 12:13-14). But it is chiefly
after their apostasy that Moses "stands in the breach" before God in
order to save the people (Ps 106:23; cf. Ex 32:1-34:9). The arguments of his
prayer - for intercession is also a mysterious battle - will inspire the
boldness of the great intercessors among the Jewish people and in the Church:
God is love; he is therefore righteous and faithful; he cannot contradict
himself; he must remember his marvellous deeds, since his glory is at stake,
and he cannot forsake this people that bears his name. [END]
(Next question: In the Old Testament, what relationship do the king and the temple have to prayer?)
Monday, July 29, 2013
537. How did Moses pray? (part 1)
537. How did Moses pray? (part 1)
(Comp 537) The prayer of Moses was typical of contemplative prayer. God, who called
to Moses from the burning bush, lingered in conversation with him often and at
length, “face to face, like a man with his friend” (Exodus 33:11). In this
intimacy with God, Moses attained the strength to intercede tenaciously for his
people: his prayer thus prefigured the intercession of the one mediator, Christ
Jesus.
“In brief”
(CCC 2593) The prayer of
Moses responds to the living God's initiative for the salvation of his people.
It foreshadows the prayer of intercession of the unique mediator, Christ Jesus.
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 2574) Once the promise
begins to be fulfilled (Passover, the Exodus, the gift of the Law, and the
ratification of the covenant), the prayer of Moses becomes the most striking
example of intercessory prayer, which will be fulfilled in "the one
mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim 2:5).
Reflection
(CCC 2575) Here again the
initiative is God's. From the midst of the burning bush he calls Moses (Ex
3:1-10). This event will remain one of the primordial images of prayer in the
spiritual tradition of Jews and Christians alike. When "the God of
Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob" calls Moses to be his servant, it is
because he is the living God who wants men to live. God reveals himself in
order to save them, though he does not do this alone or despite them: he calls
Moses to be his messenger, an associate in his compassion, his work of
salvation. There is something of a divine plea in this mission, and only after
long debate does Moses attune his own will to that of the Savior God. But in
the dialogue in which God confides in him, Moses also learns how to pray: he
balks, makes excuses, above all questions: and it is in response to his
question that the Lord confides his ineffable name, which will be revealed
through his mighty deeds.[IT
CONTINUES]
(The question: How did Moses pray?” continues)
Sunday, July 28, 2013
536. How is Abraham a model of prayer? (part 2 continuation)
536. How is Abraham a model of prayer? (part 2 continuation)
(Comp 536 repetition) Abraham is a model of prayer because he walked in the presence of God,
heard and obeyed him. His prayer was a battle of faith because he continued to
believe in the fidelity of God even in times of trial. Besides, after having
received in his own tent the visit of the Lord who confided his plan to him,
Abraham dared to intercede for sinners with bold confidence.
“In brief”
(CCC 2592) The prayer of
Abraham and Jacob is presented as a battle of faith marked by trust in God's
faithfulness and by certitude in the victory promised to perseverance.
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 2572) As a final stage
in the purification of his faith, Abraham, "who had received the
promises" (Heb 11:17) is asked to sacrifice the son God had given him.
Abraham's faith does not weaken (“God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt
offering."), for he "considered that God was able to raise men even
from the dead" (Gen 22:8; Heb 11:19) and so the father of believers is
conformed to the likeness of the Father who will not spare his own Son but wiLl
deliver him up for us all (Rom 8:32). Prayer restores man to God's likeness and
enables him to share in the power of God's love that saves the multitude (Cf.
Rom 8:16-21).
Reflection
(CCC 2573) God renews his
promise to Jacob, the ancestor of the twelve tribes of Israel (Cf. Gen
28:10-22). Before confronting his elder brother Esau, Jacob wrestles all night
with a mysterious figure who refuses to reveal his name, but he blesses him
before leaving him at dawn. From this account, the spiritual tradition of the
Church has retained the symbol of prayer as a battle of faith and as the
triumph of perseverance (Cf. Gen 32:24-30; Lk 18:1-8). [END]
(Next question: How did Moses pray?)
Saturday, July 27, 2013
536. How is Abraham a model of prayer? (part 1)
536. How is Abraham a model of prayer? (part 1)
(Comp 536) Abraham is a model of prayer because he walked in the presence of God,
heard and obeyed him. His prayer was a battle of faith because he continued to
believe in the fidelity of God even in times of trial. Besides, after having
received in his own tent the visit of the Lord who confided his plan to him,
Abraham dared to intercede for sinners with bold confidence.
“In brief”
(CCC 2592) The prayer of
Abraham and Jacob is presented as a battle of faith marked by trust in God's
faithfulness and by certitude in the victory promised to perseverance.
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 2570) When God calls
him, Abraham goes forth "as the Lord had told him" (Gen 12:4);
Abraham's heart is entirely submissive to the Word and so he obeys. Such
attentiveness of the heart, whose decisions are made according to God's will,
is essential to prayer, while the words used count only in relation to it.
Abraham's prayer is expressed first by deeds: a man of silence, he constructs
an altar to the Lord at each stage of his journey. Only later does Abraham's
first prayer in words appear: a veiled complaint reminding God of his promises
which seem unfulfilled (Cf. Gen 15:2 f). Thus one aspect of the drama of prayer
appears from the beginning: the test of faith in the fidelity of God.
Reflection
(CCC 2571) Because Abraham
believed in God and walked in his presence and in covenant with him (Cf. Gen
15:6; 17:1 f.), the patriarch is ready to welcome a mysterious Guest into his
tent. Abraham's remarkable hospitality at Mamre foreshadows the annunciation of
the true Son of the promise (Cf. Gen 18:1-15; Lk 1:26-38). After that, once God
had confided his plan, Abraham's heart is attuned to his Lord's compassion for
men and he dares to intercede for them with bold confidence (Cf. 18:16-33). [IT CONTINUES]
(The question: How is Abraham a model of prayer? continues)
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