"Rely not on your wealth; say not: 'I have the power.' Rely not on your strength in following the desires of your heart." Sir 5:1
Power is illusory. We may indeed have the power to purchase goods when we have money or an active credit card, even when we can't pay the credit card in full, but this is not the kind of power about which the Book of Wisdom speaks. Wisdom teaches us that the only real power we have is the power to let go and depend of God for everything. This is a hard wisdom which most of us learn slowly and painfully.
When a child falls seriously ill, even when you can pay for the finest medical treatment, there is no guarantee that the remedies suggested or applied will be effective. Unfortunately, too many of us know this from painful experience. More times than I can remember friends or parishioners have approached me asking prayers for a special intention, and while I am happy to pray with them, my prayers are not magic.
Neither is the grace of God magic. Rather, God promises always to be with us and upon this we can always rely. God will not abandon us even at those times when we are lost, desperate, angry or overwhelmed with fear. God's strength is always ours for the asking.
Today, listen to someone with the ears of God.
What do you expect God to do for you when you pray?
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