In response to a reflection on June 28 on Abraham’s intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah, a reader asked, “What about those who have no one to pray for them?” The question is a good one. In exploring church teaching to answer it, I have found a new treasure.
Petition and Intercession
Prior to this exploration, I would have defined a prayer of petition as a “prayer that asks God for something” and intercessory prayer as a “prayer of petition that asks God something for someone else.” While these two definitions are ball park correct, the fuller explanation is much more beautiful.
The catechism defines prayer of petition as a prayer of awareness of our dependency on God that turns us back to face him and seek his help. (CCC 2629) It goes on to say, “The first movement of the prayer of petition is asking forgiveness…It is a prerequisite for righteous and pure prayer.” Putting ourselves in a state of awareness we are not entitled to God’s help, though we seek it, moves us to begin with trust and humility. That trusting humility “brings us back into the light of communion between the Father and his Son Jesus Christ and with one another, so that we receive from him what we ask.” (CCC 2631)
From this perspective of humility, we enter into the bonds of love that are the nature of God. We enter into seeking the “Kingdom of God.” We want God to COME into a situation to do what is good. “When we share in God’s saving love, we understand that every need can become an object of petition. Christ, who assumed all things in order to redeem all things, is glorified by what we ask the Father in his name. (CCC 2633)
That is beautiful! Yet intercession goes beyond that. “Intercession is a prayer of petition which leads us to pray as Jesus did. He is the one intercessor with the Father on behalf of all men, especially sinners. He is ‘able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.’ “(Hebrews 7:25) (CCC 2634) When we intercede, we JOIN JESUS to connect the person we pray for with God’s mercy and goodness, as well as the goodness and love God has already given us.
So what about those who have no one to pray for them?
I understand this section of the catechism to mean that, first, we are not the important ones in intercession. Jesus is the important one. HE IS THE INTERCESSOR, he is the one who “stands in the gap” between the Father and the person of concern. Jesus is the intercessor; and it is the HOLY SPIRIT within us who does the interceding through our prayer (CCC 2634).
We are a conduit, a means to God’s end, which is the salvation and bringing to holiness of the person or situation in question. But the INTENTION and POWER to be effective are of God.
We need not worry that because we failed to pray for someone, that person was lost to God, left in suffering, or denied something needed. We need not think we have the power to appropriate God’s grace or bounty. God does the work. We are just the path God travels to get the work done.
Nor should we ever think that when God answers an intercessory prayer which we have offered that we made it happen. We can heal no one. We can change nothing. It is God who acts.
It is also true that we pray within the will of God–which means within an openness to how God chooses to answer AND within the freedom God gives to each person to enable that person to choose to love as God loves. God’s will is always that all humankind know, love, and serve God–that all are saved for an eternal life of Truth and Love. A particular request may or may not be what God’s goodness (with an eye to the requirements of Eternal Life) would give.
My observation is that our participating in intercessory prayer is itself an answer to prayer–by our giving our wills over to it, we join the community of saints in bringing goodness into a situation.
Moses and the Red Sea
Today’s first reading is the story of Moses’ parting the Red Sea so that the Israelites may safely escape the Egyptians now in hot pursuit of them. Moses is an intercessor for the people. But the action is God’s. God does not need Moses to tell him, “Your people are in danger.” God knows. God has an extraordinary plan THAT INCLUDES MOSES’ INTERCESSION AND ACTION but which is far greater than anything Moses might accomplish on his own.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?
Tell the children of Israel to go forward.
And you, lift up your staff and, with hand outstretched over the sea,
split the sea in two,
that the children of Israel may pass through it on dry land.
But I will make the Egyptians so obstinate
that they will go in after them.
Then I will receive glory through Pharaoh and all his army,
his chariots and charioteers.
The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD,
when I receive glory through Pharaoh
and his chariots and charioteers.”
Intercession Is a Privilege and a Call
The early Christians were intensely aware that it was Christ who had the power to make a difference. They invoked Christ—and Christ made a difference. At the Gate Called Beautiful, Peter said to the lame man who begged for alms, “Silver and gold have I none, but in the name of Jesus Christ, pick up your mat and walk.” The man walked—not because Peter prayed, but because he joined the situation to the power of Jesus.
I have much appreciated the reader’s question. I knew about standing in the gap—to offer myself to pray for the person in need who might not be able to pray for himself. But I did not realize the exquisite beauty of this fuller teaching.
We say we join with Christ when we offer things up, that in that offering up of suffering we join him on the cross in saving the world. That is true! But we also join with Christ when we enter into the Act of Spiritual Mercy which is to pray for the living and the dead. We put ourselves into God’s love to join with God in accomplishing goodness in the world. Does God need us to accomplish that? No, as God did not need Moses to lift his staff to part the Red Sea. God used Moses to do that, and God can use us. When he does, God gives us the opportunity to enter into his work of mercy and be a part of it.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for this lesson, this new awareness. Lead me and guide me to take this knowledge and use it as You would have me use it. Help me to remember that when I engage in intercessory prayer that You are letting me be a participant in Your work. I am the staff You lift or the road You travel.
