feast of st.joseph of Leonissa (1500's) feb. 4

Prayer makes no sense apart from a genuine trust in God. Though it remains true that none of us may have a sure grip on how prayer works, a belief in it defines us as Christians. When illness strikes, when someone loses a job, when a marriage is in trouble, when a teenager seems headed for disaster, when an accident worries us, we pray. We trust that in some way and some how God will help. Our trust does not mean we have to expect God to change the laws of the universe; it may be something much more subtle. Perhaps as a result of prayer I or someone for whom I pray learns how to deal with some disaster or huge worry. We are probably better off in the long run not trying to figure out what God might or should do and instead trusting that God has ways of which we know so little. Jesus says: "I give you my assurance. Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24).

— Don Talafous, O.S.B.

This was part of Bro. Don's reflection this morning. I'm not sure what prompted this reflection, because the readings today were about other things. The gospel for today has Jesus telling his disciples to go out two by two as they hit the road to preach the good news. He also tells them to travel light. I am caught by the wisdom of advising his disciples to take a friend. I subscribe to the "buddy system". It is always good to have someone to share your woes and joys with as you travel through life, whether you're hiking in the Appalachians or putting in an attic fan. Jesus must have known that there would be times when any one of us would experience discouragement/despair and would need a friend to buoy us. There would also be times when we would need another body to hold our elation when good things happen. (I've actually shared good news with the Safeway checker out of my need to spill.) and I remember learning from the checker at Lucky's on Concannon St. in Livermore early in the morning about the plane crashing into the Twin Towers. I will never forget that. Perhaps, as the first apostles filled with the urgency of sharing the message of Jesus (too good to be true) were heading out, Jesus felt compassion for them, recognizing that they would meet resistance and hostility along the way and that they would need a friend. The friend would say: "remember when Jesus healed the leper? remember when Jesus stood with the Samaritan woman at the well and offered her salvation?" It is easy to forget that God is here waiting to love us when the experience of the moment discourages us. It is then we need to reach out to a friend who does remember...