The desirable Habit of praying for Others
By: Elias Bejjani *
April 06/2011
“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 April 02/2011, 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..
N.B:
Click here to read the Arabic version of the above editorial
http://www.10452lccc.com/elias.arabic09/elias%20paralysed3.4.11.htm
Click Here to listen to the editorial in the Lebanese dialogue
http://www.eliasbejjani.com/cermons%20elias/paralysed.elias14.3.10.wma
*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/.