So much more than just words.

When I say think of what it means to pray, for many of us that image of  an innocent child kneeling at their bedside comes to mind. In reality very few of us are young sweet and innocent anymore, nor do we kneel beside our beds in order to pray. Prayer can mean many different things to all of us. I went from being at school where offices were available, to making my way to Church for the Divine Office to having three children! Those of you who have children will know, making time, let alone the practicalities of going to church at least once a day becomes impossible. For many years (in a very guilty manner) prayers became grasped moments of thoughts to God, thankful ones, pleading ones and on occasion fairly desperate ones. But for a considerable time the discipline of the offices was consumed by my children. I believe that God looked no less on my prayers then, than now. Having returned to my daily discipline.  Even still despite this I catch myself in a fleeting thought of a prayer during the day. Old habits die hard I guess.

But reflecting on a lot of what has happened, has made me realise prayer is more than just words or thoughts. Prayer like God infiltrates our lives and our very beings. How we go about our lives can be a prayer. If we offer our lives and work ,  happily and joyfully with others put before ourselves. It becomes a prayful offering. Time spent thinking on and reflecting on our lives becomes prayful discernment.  Time spent admiring and being grateful for our lives becomes a prayer of thanks. Time spent in concern for others becomes a prayful request for God's help.

Prayer can be given in every thought, word and deed that we do. It can even be through the way we dress. Our choice to not wear make up can be a thankful offering of God's beautiful creation. Wearing a crucifix  a prayful reminder of sacrifices made for our salvation. Now for a priest the very act of dressing for Mass is a prayer. Each item has it's own prayer that removes the identity if "me" and replaces it with "Priest".  It is about praying that when  they stand in that altar they are no longer an individual but "in persona Christi" .  A glorious and humbling prayer.  A remberance that the Mass  is not about us as individuals but about giving thanks to God for his almighty gift of sacrifice and redeeming grace. The Priest in his actions during the consecration again emphasises , that this is an act directed at God not us. By facing a wall, as I have heard it said, he is turning with us to face God .  The offering of The gifts is not being made to us, it is made to God that  it might receive his Holy miracle transforming  this bread  and wine into the body and blood of his dear Son.  Then at the end of this  the Priest turns to us knelt in humble gratitude and respect and says "Behold the Lamb of God." Then we approach in a prayful way to receive this wonderful gift.

Each and every action in our lives can be a prayful gift to God.  Without  hesitation we should be willing to offer our lives as such.  Prayer is so much more than  just using words.  The divine office  and Mass  are good starting points to find and listen to God, but should be used as a spring board that catapults  our entire existence as an offering  of  prayer  to our Father.