Jesus says, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10

I remember a crisis in my family when I was just a little girl. My father had developed a very high fever and the doctor was afraid it was meningitis. My mother was desperate after seeing the doctor and she told me to go to my room and pray. So I did. I still remember kneeling beside my bed and telling God: “God my Daddy is very sick. I love him so much! Can you help him?” I was about to say more when I heard Jesus say, “Go and kiss him, little one.” So I ran into the room where my father was lying down immobile and my mother began to get angry with me “I told you to go your room and pray.” Indeed it was just moments ago that she told me to go and pray, but I said, “Mom, God told me to kiss him!” So I ran to my dad and pressed my lips to his burning face and as I kissed him, he opened his eyes. His fever broke instantly and he smiled. God had answered my prayer. I knew he would. I was a child who knew God was always listening and ready to help.

I am a woman now and I believe so much in prayer, and I believe the greatest prayer of all is the prayer that Jesus taught us “Our Father”.   I also think that while many of us are busy petitioning God for many things, the greatest prayer of all is simply “thy will be done Lord”. It was God’s will so many years ago that my father recover from his fever. I don’t think we can begin to understand how much God loves us and how vast is His providence.   While I still petition God, I find myself more and more just saying “Your will be done Lord Jesus!” I want so much for God to be satisfied with my choices and my life and so often I am not sure what to ask for so I just say, “Thy will be done Jesus.”

Every day I pray at the time Jesus died for us, 3pm. I pray for God’s mercy upon all as I meditate on the Passion of Christ. This time of prayer has changed me in profound ways. By contemplating Our Lord’s Passion daily I am reminded of how much Jesus suffered to redeem us and to open the gates of paradise to us.  I am reminded of how much Jesus loves us all and temptation in my life vanishes as I contemplate the greatness of God’s love.  There is so much suffering in the world and I know God wants us to draw closer to Him to ask for His mercy and His healing.  I truly believe that if the Christian world unites to pray for the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon our sinful, broken world that God will answer us.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:14

Sunday the world celebrates Father’s day. “God the Father, you are the Father of all souls and there is no greater love than Your love!  You gave us Your Only Son Jesus so that we could live eternally with You in heaven.   Help us God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to live in a spirit of thanksgiving, being truly grateful for all that You have given us, especially the gift of redemption. I pray Holy God, that You will inspire all the spiritual leaders of the world to help unite all Christians at the foot of the Cross of Jesus each day at 3 o’clock, the time Jesus died for us, in a humble prayer in remembrance of Your infinite kindness, Your unending mercy and Your everlasting love.  I love You God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Your child”