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As I read through the final module in the Small Faith Sharing Group materials provided by the diocese for this past Advent season, I was thinking about our General Intercessions (Petitions or Prayers of the Faithful) that we pray at Mass. Every time that Jesus heals someone in The Gospels it is because of the faith of the person wanting healed (the blind man who called out Jesus’ name) or the person’s friends (friends lowered the paralytic through the roof where Jesus was.) The faith of the person(s) is emphasized when people did not believe in the power of who Jesus was and so Jesus was able to do very few miracles there (when Jesus returned to Nazareth.) This reminds me of the number of times we pray at Mass during the General Intercessions for a greater respect of life; for an end to abortion; the dignity of life. When we enter into those prayers, do we have the prayers of the small women’s group who showed up at early day pro-life rallies to pray the rosary for the conversion of Bernard Nathanson (doctor in New York who later admitted he simply “made up” the numbers of women who died by back-alley abortions and testified before the Supreme Court.) These women were around when he performed his second to last abortion using the new invention of the ultra-sound. He could not get the image out of his mind even when he did not use the ultra-sound and so gave up the practice and became a renowned pro-life advocate. This is a modern day example of believing in the power of Jesus and believing that the power of prayer works. Also, it is a good time to remind ourselves that we have a part to play in God’s plan for these prayers to be answered. God put us here to cooperate with his plan. Bernard Nathanson “came around” because of these women’s prayers, the organizers of the rallies, the scientists who did their good work inventing the ultra-sound and countless others.

Maybe all of us this week, should pray for an increase in the gift of faith. After all, faith is a gift, so we should ask for it. Then, spend a few moments reflecting and praying about all the answered prayers that have come to us. Everything that is good is from God; we might have cooperated in it, but the gift giver is still God. Then, ask him, how you are to be part of his salvation history; what is he asking you to do to be an answered prayer for others. I am sure the warming shelter was an answered prayer for many this past week. All of us parishioners have a part to play in that as it is a responsibility the Lord has gifted our parish with. I am sure the parents who send their children to Sacred Heart School have answered prayers in a school community that knows and love their children and wants what is best for them. Again, the school is a responsibility given to each parishioner as a gift from the Lord. How else is he calling you, more directly, to be an answered prayer for someone by the gifts and talents he has placed within you to use for others?