Pray For Others, God Listens and
Responds
By: Elias Bejjani *
March 18/2012
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily
burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For
my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11/28-30)
The habit of praying for others in any manner or
pattern is a desirable religious practice, especially when the prayers are for
the sake of those who are sick, persecuted, oppressed, poor, lonely and
distressed, or have fallen prey to evil temptations.
Praying for others whether they are parents, relatives,
strangers, acquaintances, enemies, or friends, and for countries, is an act
that exhibits the faith, caring, love, and hope of those who offer the prayers.
Almighty God, Who is a loving, forgiving, passionate, and merciful Father
listens to these prayers and always answers them in His own wisdom and mercy
that mostly we are unable to grasp because of our limited human understanding.
"All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
(Matthew 21/22)
On the fifth Lenten Sunday that fell this years on March 18/12, the Catholic Maronites cite and recall with great reverence [ ] the
Gospel of Saint Mark( 2/1-12): "The Healing Miracle of the
Paralytic": "When he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it
was heard that he was in the house. Immediately many were gathered together, so
that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to
them. Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him. When they could not come
near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had
broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on. Jesus,
seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their
hearts, “Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins
but God alone?” Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so
reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you
reason these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to tell the paralytic,
‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?’
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive
sins”— He said to the paralytic— “I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go
to your house.” He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in
front of them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, “We
never saw anything like this!”
This great miracle in its theological essence and core demonstrates beyond
doubt that intercessions, prayers and supplications for the benefit of others
are acceptable faith rituals that Almighty God attentively hears and definitely
answers.
It is interesting to learn that the paralytic man as stated in the Gospel of
St. Mark, didn't personally call on Jesus to cure him, nor he asked Him for
forgiveness, mercy or help, although as many theologians believe Jesus used to
visit Capernaum, where the man lives, and preach in its Synagogue frequently.
Apparently this crippled man was lacking faith, hope, distancing himself from
God and total ignoring the Gospel's teaching. He did not believe that the Lord
can cure him.
What also makes this miracle remarkable and distinguishable lies in the fact
that the paralytic's relatives and friends, or perhaps some of Jesus' disciples
were adamant that the Lord is able to heal this sick man who has been totally
crippled for 38 years if He just touches him. This strong faith and hope made
four of them carry the paralytic on his mat and rush to the house where Jesus
was preaching. When they could not break through the crowd to inter the house
they climbed with the paralytic to the roof, made a hole in it and let down the
mat that the paralytic was lying on in front of Jesus and begged for his cure.
Jesus was taken by their strong faith and fulfilled their request.
Jesus forgave the paralytic his sins first (“Son, your sins are forgiven you)
and after that cured his body: "Arise, and take up your bed, and
walk". Like the scribes many nowadays still question the reason and
rationale that made Jesus give priority to the man's sins. Jesus' wisdom
illustrates that sin is the actual death and the cause for eternal anguish in
Hell. He absolved his sins first because sin cripples those who fall in its
traps, annihilates their hopes, faith, morals and values, kills their human
feelings, inflicts numbness on their consciences and keeps them far away from
Almighty God. Jesus wanted to save the man's soul before He cures his earthy
body. "For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit
his life?" (Mark 08:/36 & 37).
Our Gracious God does not disappoint any person when he seek
His help with faith and confidence. With great interest and parental love, He
listens to worshipers' prayers and requests and definitely respond to them in
His own way, wisdom, time and manner. "Ask, and it will be given you.
Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened
for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds.
To him who knocks it will be opened". (Matthew 07/07 &08)
In this loving and forgiving context, prayers for others, alive or dead, loved
ones or enemies, relatives or strangers, are religiously desirable. God hears
and responds because He never abandons His children no matter what they do or
say, provided that they turn to Him with faith and repentance and ask for His mercy
and forgiveness either for themselves or for others. "Is any among you
suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praises. 5:14 Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the
assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the
Lord, 5:15 and the prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will
raise him up". (James 5:13)
There are numerous biblical parables and miracles in which Almighty God shows
clearly that He accepts and responds to prayers for the sake of others, e.g.:
Jesus cured the centurion's servant on the request of the Centurion and not the
servant himself. (Matthew 8/5-133:
Jesus revived and brought back to life Lazarus on the request of his sisters
Mary and Martha. (John 11/1-44)
In conclusion: Almighty God is always waiting for us, we, His Children to come
to Him and ask for His help and mercy either for ourselves or for others. He
never leaves us alone. Meanwhile it is a Godly faith obligation to extend our
hand and pull up those who are falling and unable to pray for themselves
especially the mentally sick, the unconscious, and the paralyzed. In this realm
of faith, love and care for others comes our prayers to Virgin Mary and to all
Saints whom we do not worship, but ask for their intercessions and blessings.
O, Lord, endow us with graces of faith, hope, wisdom, and patience. Help us
to be loving, caring, humble and meek. Show us the just paths. Help us to be on
your right with the righteous on the Judgment Day.
God sees and hears us all the time, let us all fear Him in all what we think,
do and say..
*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political
commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com
& http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.
N.B: Was first published on 14.04.2011