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The Importance of Praying For Each Other, The Importance of Prayer
~ by PGA, inspired from a Homily by Fr. Greg Kimm, Pastor
I like this priest's (Father Greg Kimm) homilies. Has a nice flow and it's short, sweet and to the point. I've provided links below if you want to read archives of his other homilies.
Here below, is a sample about 'Praying For Each Other'... this is one of my favorite topics... and... one that I need constant reminder of... because... every now and then... I will forget and question, once again, the usefulness of praying for one another.
I (sort of) get the point now that we should NOT focus on the results but to appreciate it along the lines of us human beings needing company, and especially so when in misery... hence the common saying "misery loves company" (which is actually negative if you try to make others miserable as well... but can be looked on as a natural human need and positive as well). I remember lyrics from a song I heard in an old Talent-Time sung by a Eurasian Girl, Carol Anne Fernandez, dubbed the Singing Nurse (the Eurasians are always singing) that went... "Sweet misery, she loves her company. She's in a crowd when she is all alone." This is only human and it's definitely better than suffering in silence.
Also, whenever there's a game being played, be it football or the likes of it... it makes a lot of difference when there's a home crowd cheering you on... hence the expression "home crowd advantage".
This is (me thinks) what praying for each other basically is. Please remind me when I forget.
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Original Source:
Homily by Fr. Greg Kimm, Pastor
Year C
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 21 October 2007
I had a friend in college who absolutely hated it when people told him they were praying for him. He said it made him feel that they thought there was something wrong with him. But with apologies to my old friend, I'd have to say that praying for others--and letting them know that you're praying for them--can be a very good thing.
So often when we pray for others we focus only on the result--on whether our prayers seem to be answered. If the people for whom we're praying don't get well, find a job, stay married, or succeed at some venture, we can come to the conclusion that our prayers are useless. But we often forget that the act of praying for others is in itself an expression of our care and support. It is very much like what Aaron and Hur do for Moses in our first reading, when they provide a place for him to rest his weary body and hold up his tired hands as he attempts to lead the people in battle.
Regardless of how things turn out in the end, just the knowledge that we think enough of them to remember them in our prayers, just that awareness that they are prayerfully surrounded by our love, can strengthen and console those for those for whom we pray. And if this is true, isn't it possible that God is working through us? Isn't it possible that our prayers for others and the positive effect they can have on them are all part of God's efforts to answer their prayers?
see Exodus 17:8-13
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First Reading
Exodus 17:8-13
As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight.
A reading from the Book of Exodus
In those days, Amalek came and waged war against Israel.
Moses, therefore, said to Joshua,
"Pick out certain men,
and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle.
I will be standing on top of the hill
with the staff of God in my hand."
So Joshua did as Moses told him:
he engaged Amalek in battle
after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur.
As long as Moses kept his hands raised up,
Israel had the better of the fight,
but when he let his hands rest,
Amalek had the better of the fight.
Moses' hands, however, grew tired;
so they put a rock in place for him to sit on.
Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands,
one on one side and one on the other,
so that his hands remained steady till sunset.
And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people
with the edge of the sword.
The word of the Lord.
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