PRAYER - Faith Exposed with Cardinal Tagle

JesComTV

23 Feb 202104:41

Summary

TLDRThis video reflects on prayer as one of the three core disciplines of Lent, alongside fasting and almsgiving. It explores how prayer deepens our relationship with God, but also exposes us to spiritual challenges, as seen in Jesus' 40-day wilderness journey. The speaker emphasizes the importance of humility in prayer, acknowledging our sinfulness, and relying on God's love and grace for transformation. Pope Francis is quoted, reminding us that prayer is a response to God's invitation. The video calls for deeper connection with God during Lent, especially through scripture and communal worship.

Takeaways

🙏 Prayer is one of the three disciplines of Lent, alongside fasting and almsgiving.
🕊️ Prayer is especially emphasized during Lent, though we should be praying daily.
⏳ During Lent, we aim to enter a reflective 'wilderness' like Jesus did for 40 days.
⚔️ Prayer does not fully protect us from the temptations of the devil, as seen in Jesus' experience in the wilderness.
📖 God's word helps us resist the devil's lies, making it important to study scripture through prayer.
⛪ Active participation in the community's prayer life, such as the church, is vital during this time.
🤲 Prayer is a response to God's loving outreach, as Pope Francis teaches.
❤️ Despite our sinfulness, God loves us as we are, and we should not let guilt keep us from connecting with Him.
🙏 Humility in prayer is key, as it helps us recognize our sinfulness and need for God’s grace.
🌿 Lent is a time to devote more to prayer, acknowledging God's love and seeking His salvation.

Q & A

What are the three disciplines of Lent mentioned in the script?
-The three disciplines of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Why is prayer highlighted during Lent, even though it should be practiced daily?
-Prayer is highlighted during Lent because it is a time when people hope to enter the wilderness, as Jesus did for 40 days, to examine themselves and their relationship with God and others in preparation for Easter.
Does prayer completely shield us from temptation?
-No, prayer does not completely shield us from temptation. Even Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, and prayer makes us open to God, which the devil tries to interrupt.
What equips us to unravel the lies of the devil according to the script?
-God's word equips us to unravel the lies of the devil, which is why we need to devote time to prayerful reading of scripture.
What does Pope Francis remind us about prayer?
-Pope Francis reminds us that prayer is a response to God, who lovingly reaches out to us. It is God who always makes the first move, inviting us to connect or reconnect with Him.
Why should we not feel unworthy of God’s call, despite our sinfulness?
-We should not feel unworthy of God’s call because God knows we are sinners and still loves us as we are. Our sinfulness should inspire us to seek God's grace for conversion.
What virtue is highlighted in the script as essential in prayer?
-Humility is highlighted as essential in prayer, as it makes us aware of our sinfulness and our need for God.
What does the devil dislike according to the script?
-The devil dislikes the virtue of humility because it leads us to acknowledge our need for God and His salvation.
What is the significance of pausing, praying, and participating in the liturgy?
-Pausing, praying, and participating in the liturgy are our ways of responding to God's invitation to connect with Him.
How can someone overcome doubts about God's love for them?
-Someone can overcome doubts about God's love by praying before Jesus hanging on the cross, which serves as a reminder of His unconditional love.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 The Significance of Prayer During Lent

Prayer is one of the three disciplines emphasized during Lent, alongside fasting and almsgiving. While prayer is a daily practice, it takes on deeper importance during this season as we enter a spiritual 'wilderness' like Jesus did for 40 days. This time allows for reflection on our relationship with God and our neighbors, in preparation for Easter. The passage highlights that prayer, while essential, does not completely protect us from temptation. Instead, it opens us to God, making us vulnerable to distractions from the devil. However, by relying on God's word, we can discern and counter the devil's lies.

📖 The Power of God's Word in Prayer

Jesus' experience in the wilderness teaches us that God's word is a powerful tool in resisting temptation. Prayerful engagement with the scriptures and participating in the communal prayer life of the church equips us to stand against the devil’s deceptions. When we enter the sacred space of prayer, Pope Francis reminds us that it is a response to God's initiative of reaching out to us. This understanding helps deepen our connection with God.

💞 God's Loving Initiative in Prayer

Prayer is always a response to God, who lovingly makes the first move in connecting with us. This connection happens when we pause to pray, read the scriptures, or participate in liturgical practices. Even when we feel unworthy because of our sins, we should not shy away from engaging with God. Despite our shortcomings, God continues to love us, making prayer an opportunity to reconnect with Him.

🙏 Humility and the Need for God

Recognizing our sinfulness through prayer should not discourage us but instead inspire a deeper reliance on God for transformation. Humility, a virtue disliked by the devil, allows us to acknowledge our dependence on God for salvation. This awareness leads us to seek God's grace, especially during the season of Lent, as we are reminded of our need for His saving power.

💔 Embracing God's Unconditional Love

On the first Sunday of Lent, we are called to spend more time in prayer and humbly acknowledge our need for God's love and salvation. While God's love for us is unquestionable, the real question lies in whether we are humble enough to accept it. If we doubt His love, we are encouraged to pray before the crucifix, contemplating Jesus' sacrifice as proof of God's unwavering love.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Prayer

Prayer is one of the three disciplines of Lent, alongside fasting and almsgiving. It is the act of communicating with God, seeking a deeper relationship with Him. In the script, prayer is emphasized as a means of self-examination and strengthening one's connection with God, particularly during the season of Lent. The speaker highlights that prayer does not completely shield believers from temptation, but it helps them stay close to God.

💡Lent

Lent is a period of 40 days in the Christian liturgical calendar, leading up to Easter. It is a time for reflection, fasting, and prayer, modeled after Jesus’ time in the wilderness. The script discusses Lent as a time for believers to examine their relationship with God and their neighbors, preparing themselves for the celebration of Easter.

💡Fasting

Fasting is another discipline of Lent, where believers abstain from certain foods or activities to grow in spiritual discipline. In the script, it is mentioned alongside prayer and almsgiving as a practice that helps Christians reflect on their relationship with God. Fasting is meant to help believers humble themselves and seek spiritual nourishment.

💡Almsgiving

Almsgiving refers to acts of charity, particularly giving to those in need. As one of the three key disciplines of Lent, almsgiving is a way to practice compassion and generosity, following Jesus’ teachings. The script suggests that almsgiving, alongside prayer and fasting, helps believers live out their faith in practical ways during Lent.

💡Wilderness

The wilderness refers to the place where Jesus spent 40 days fasting and praying, as recounted in the Bible. The script draws a parallel between Jesus’ time in the wilderness and the spiritual journey of Lent, encouraging believers to examine their own lives and relationships with God. It also acknowledges that the wilderness is a place of spiritual testing and temptation.

💡Temptation

Temptation is the act of being enticed or lured into sin. In the script, it is mentioned that prayer does not shield believers from temptation, as even Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. However, through prayer and knowing God's Word, believers can resist temptation and recognize the lies of the devil.

💡God's Word

God's Word refers to the teachings of the Bible. In the script, it is highlighted as a tool to help believers discern the truth and resist the lies of the devil. By engaging in prayerful reading of scripture, believers equip themselves spiritually, especially during Lent. God's Word offers guidance and strength in moments of spiritual struggle.

💡Humility

Humility is the quality of being humble, recognizing one's need for God and acknowledging one's sinfulness. The script emphasizes humility as a virtue necessary for genuine prayer and spiritual growth. It contrasts humility with the pride that the devil tries to exploit. Humility in prayer allows believers to admit their weaknesses and ask for God's grace and forgiveness.

💡Sinfulness

Sinfulness refers to the state of being in sin, or having a tendency to act against God's will. The script reminds believers that despite their sinfulness, God still loves them. Recognizing one's sinfulness should lead to a deeper dependence on God for conversion and spiritual growth, especially during the reflective season of Lent.

💡Salvation

Salvation is the deliverance from sin and its consequences, offered by God through Jesus Christ. The script touches on salvation as something believers must seek humbly through prayer, especially during Lent. It highlights that God's love and grace are available to all, even though humans are unworthy due to their sinfulness. The ultimate question posed is whether believers are humble enough to accept God's love and salvation.

Highlights

Prayer is one of the three disciplines of Lent, along with fasting and almsgiving.

Prayer is emphasized during Lent, although we are called to pray daily.

During Lent, we hope to enter the wilderness as Jesus did for 40 days to examine ourselves and our relationship with God and neighbor in preparation for Easter.

Prayer does not completely shield us from the snares of the devil, as seen in Jesus's experience in the wilderness.

Saints have taught that in prayer, we open ourselves to God and become intimate with Him, which the evil one tries to disrupt.

God’s word equips us to unravel the lies of the devil, which is why prayerful reading of Scripture is essential.

Active participation in the prayer life of the church or community is important.

Pope Francis reminds us that prayer is a response to God, who lovingly reaches out to us first.

We may not notice it, but God always makes the first move in inviting us to prayer and connection.

Despite feeling unworthy due to sinfulness, we should not let this discourage us from relating with God.

God loves us as we are, even in our sinfulness, and we need Him for conversion and salvation.

Humility is key in prayer, as it makes us aware of our sinfulness and our need for God.

The devil dislikes humility because it strengthens our connection with God and opens us to His grace.

Pope Francis teaches that we thirst for God’s saving grace, which is fulfilled through prayer.

The first Sunday of Lent is a time to devote more time to prayer, acknowledging our need for God's love and salvation.