(Day Two) St. Jude, Apostle of Prayer
Jesus taught St. Jude how to pray with a faith that could move mountains. His prayer
was inspired by Jesus' words: "Ask and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock,
and the door will be opened to you." (Lk 11:9-10)
We sometimes think that God has abandoned us or that our prayers have fallen on
deaf ears. St. Jude prayed with the confidence instilled by Jesus' teaching: "Look how the
wild flowers grow; they never have to spin or weave; yet not even Solomon in all his regalia was robed like one of these. How
much more will God look after you?... Don't worry... Your Father knows what you need.
Instead, set your hearts on God's kingdom, and these other things will be given you as well." (Lk12:22-31)
Although we do not totally understand God's ways, we confidently place ourselves in
God's hands, as Jesus himself did. St. Jude was with Jesus the night he prayed in the
Garden. There, in agony, Jesus taught us how to pray: "Father, if it be possible, take this cup of suffering from me.Yet, not my will but
yours be done." (Mt 26:39)
When we are insistent and confident in prayer, we also allow our prayer to transform
our lives. We open our hearts to God's spirit, willingly accept the challenges God allows
us and generously recommit ourselves to imitate Jesus. St. Jude understood the Lord's words, "It is not those who say to me
'Lord, Lord' who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of
my Father." (Mt 7:21)
Prayer
St. Jude, through prayer you praised God for the wonderful works of Jesus. You asked
God for the strength to meet the challenges of your apostolate. You put your trust in
God's mercy, believing firmly that God loved you and understood your joys and sorrows, your hopes and fears, and your triumphs
and failures. You understood that nothing is impossible for God. We ask you to pray for
us now before the Most High so that we too might be filled with God's saving power, understand God's will for us
and faithfully place ourselves in God's loving hands. Amen.
Commitment
I recommit myself to pray daily with greater confidence and faith that God's will be
done in me.
