August 10, 2007

Attune Your Heart to God

When we think of God’s overarching plan of salvation, we can not exaggerate the importance of the figure of Abraham. Throughout the New Testament the coming of the Messiah is often articulated in terms of the fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham. Every day the Church prays the Canticle of Zechariah (the Benedictus) during Morning Prayer and the Canticle of Mary (the Magnificat) during Evening Prayer. Both focus on the promise made to Abraham. In John 8 we read Jesus saying, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my days; he saw it and was glad... Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” St. Paul, particularly in his letters to the Romans and the Galatians, describes the entire Christian faith in reference to the promises made to Abraham. The Catechism of the Catholic Church rightly makes regular reference to Abraham. He is truly our father in faith!

I love the story of Abraham’s intercession on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah found in Genesis 18. He haggles with God to spare the wicked cities on behalf of 50, 45, 40, 30, 20 then 10 righteous people. Alas there were not even 10 righteous people to be found! Abraham is a great role model for us who live in this wicked modern age. Commenting on this story, the Catechism says, “... once God had confided his plan, Abraham’s heart is attuned to his Lord’s compassion for men and he dares to intercede for them with bold confidence.” Through all of his trials and suffering, Abraham’s heart was attuned to God’s heart. What an interesting image, to tune the heart!

I play the guitar. To tune any stringed instrument, one must stretch all of the strings to the proper tension. If one string is too loose or taught, the instrument will sound terrible. Through the trials of life, our hearts can become attuned to God’s heart. Jesus revealed that God has a sacred and merciful heart. In his bold interceding, Abraham was only asking for what God had inspired him to ask for, the mercy that God wanted to grant all along. This is the secret to getting your prayers answered. Let the Holy Spirit guide how and what you pray for. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).

Pray, pray, pray,

Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR

St. Joseph Friary, New York, NY

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