A few words about prayer from the Holy Father:
“When we speak with God, we do not do so in order to reveal what we have in our heart: he knows it much better than we do! Although God is a mystery for us, we are not an enigma in His eyes (cf. Ps 139[138]: 1-4). God is like those mothers for whom ‘one look’ suffices to thoroughly understand her children: whether they are happy or sad, whether they are sincere or are hiding something.
Thus, the first step in Christian prayer is consigning ourselves to God, to His providence. It is as if to say: ‘Lord, you know everything; I do not even have to tell you about my pain; I ask only that you be here beside me: You are my hope.’ It is interesting to note that, in the Sermon on the Mount, immediately after teaching the words of the ‘Our Father,’ Jesus exhorts us not to be worried or troubled about things. It seems like a contradiction: first He teaches us to ask for daily bread and then He tells us: Do not be anxious, asking ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” (Mt 6,31). But the contradiction is only apparent: a Christian’s request expresses trust in the Father; and it is precisely this trust that enables us to ask for what we need without worry or agitation.
God’s holiness is an expanding force, and we ask that the barriers in our world be quickly broken down. When Jesus begins to preach, the first to pay the consequences is precisely the evil that afflicts the world. The evil spirits curse: ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God’ (Mk 1,24). Such holiness had never been seen before: not concerned with itself but radiating outward. A holiness — that of Jesus — that expands in concentric circles, as when one throws a stone into a pond. The evil one’s days are numbered — evil is not eternal; evil can no longer harm us: the strong man has arrived to take possession of his house (cf. Mk 3,23-27). And this strong man is Jesus, who gives us, too, the strength to take possession of our inner house.
Prayer drives away all fears. The Father loves us; the Son lifts up His arms to support ours; the Spirit works secretly for the redemption of the world. And we? We do not waver in uncertainty; for we have one great certainty: God loves us; Jesus gave His life for us! The Spirit is within us. This is the great certainty. And the evil one? He is afraid. And this is good.” — Pope Francis
