Time To Pray

By Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

“Seek the face of the Lord! Seek always the face of the Lord!” the Psalmist exhorts us. This is both a poetical and realistic description of the purpose and the pursuit of prayer: seeking the face of the Lord. To have a face-to-face encounter with anyone is very personal and meaningful, all the more so with the Lord Himself. Moses longed for and asked insistently of the Lord with whom he communicated frequently to “let me see Your face”. Yet, it was not to be. (cf. Ex 33:18-23 ) He was allowed to see God as He passed by – a reference to seeing the effects or reflection of God in His marvels of nature and grace. So why are we exhorted to seek the face of the Lord if it is not to be granted even to the most intimate friend and servant of the Lord as Moses? The short answer is that we will see His face. It is, in fact, our eternal destiny to contemplate the face of the Lord in all its beauty and glory for all eternity with no intermediary in the beatific vision – ‘then we shall know Him as we are known by Him’ St. Paul assures us. But now we only see partially and dimly as in a mirror or reflection with Faith and Hope. (cf. 1Cor 13)

So the Psalmists’ exhortation is really about the pursuit! It is about praying – always and without growing weary. This is our task and our challenge as good disciples of the Lord. This is also why we are offered every year the season of Lent.

Consolation is one of the most welcome effects of the Lord in our lives. It is often how He reveals Himself to us and encourages us along our journey – think of the Transfiguration. Yet, lest we mistakenly begin to seek the consolation of the Lord and not the Lord of consolation, He will wean us periodically of consolation and challenge us with desolation. 

Ultimately, the real measure of good prayer is not consolation or desolation – it is simply fidelity to the time we have allotted for formal prayer. In answer to Moses’ request, the Lord told him to wait in the cleft of the rock until He passed by. Good prayer is waiting faithfully for the Lord to pass by us. Lent is the perfect time to renew our plan of prayer and learn to wait for the Lord. 

He will come – soon. Wait for it.