St Matthias

"Then they prayed, 'You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.' Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles." Acts 1:25-26

In almost every chapter of the Book of Acts there is a reference to prayer, a remarkable but unsurprising fact. The apostles and disciples knew how dependent they were on God for life, faith and direction. Prayer both reminded them of this, and deepened their commitment to rely on the Lord for everything.

Unlettered women and men for the most part, the disciples slowly came to believe that God had chosen them to live and do the Gospel not simply for their own salvation but that the world might know the name and ministry of Jesus the Christ. Praying helped them remember their call and grow in it. Prayer can do the same for us.

Although not all of us are apostles or even, like our bishops, successors to the Apostles, we each have a vocation and a ministry rooted in Baptism. All of us have been called to announce the Good News with our lives and service, especially of those who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus. Daily prayer not only reminds of our vocation, it deepens us in the realization that by ourselves we can do little, but with God all things are possible.

Today take one minute of silence and offer it to God for whatever God wants to do in and through us.

What does prayer or praying mean for you?