Good News About Prayer

We’re all familiar with bad news. It dominates headlines and conversations—political unrest, economic instability, violence, addiction, racism, natural disasters. It grabs our attention, often shocking or distracting us from our own struggles. But while the world is drawn to bad news, deep down we long for good news - something that brings hope and healing.

Christians believe that Good News is found in the Gospel - the life and message of Jesus Christ. Sadly, though, many don’t see Christianity as good news. Some feel it’s more about rules and judgement than grace and love. Others are put off by communities that don’t reflect the joy and compassion of Christ. But the heart of the Gospel is this:

“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

This week, we turn to the good news about prayer.

Most people pray. But we’ve all experienced the frustration of unanswered prayer. We want to believe God listens and responds - but sometimes, it feels like He doesn’t, as if we’re on mute. We wonder: is He too busy? Is He even there? Does He care?

There’s a story of a boy whose father worked late every night. The boy would write notes and slide them under his dad’s office door, hoping for a reply. But the notes were often left unread. That sense of being ignored can mirror our experience with prayer.

Jesus understood this disappointment. In Luke 18, He tells a parable about a widow who persistently pleads with a corrupt judge for justice. She has no one to speak for her, no resources, no influence. Yet she keeps coming. Eventually, the judge relents - not because he cares, but because she wears him down.

Jesus uses humour here - the idea of a powerful judge fearing a frail widow is meant to make us smile. But the point is serious. If even an unjust judge responds to persistence, how much more will our loving Father respond to us?

Jesus isn’t comparing God to the judge -He’s contrasting them. God isn’t indifferent or corrupt. He’s already chosen us, already given us His Son. Of course He cares about our needs, our families, our health, our hopes.

So why does prayer sometimes feel ineffective?

Because prayer isn’t just about getting what we want. It’s about growing in relationship with God. Like work, family, and friendships, prayer takes effort. God may be using the delay to strengthen us, to deepen our character, to draw us into a richer life of faith.

Sometimes we need persistence in prayer:

- To look beyond our own needs and align with God’s greater purposes.

- To recognise when we’re asking for the wrong thing—God may say “no” because He knows what’s best.

- To be more specific - vague prayers are hard to recognise when answered.

- To move beyond casual requests - God desires wholehearted relationship, not transactional exchanges.

- To cooperate with God - prayer is not begging but joining in His work. Sometimes, we have a part to play before change can come.

So, here’s your homework: where do you need God’s intervention in your life? If you already have a daily time of quiet prayer, bring that need to Him persistently this week. If not, carve out five minutes a day - even in the car. Ask God to show you how He’s working in you, how He’s strengthening you. And keep asking.

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Today’s Gospel reading is about prayer and specially perseverance in prayer and this might be accentuated in the Prayers of the faithful. For example:

R.  We pray so often for the peace of our world apparently to no effect.

     While persevering in prayer

     we ask that God will show us how we too must play our part

      in bringing about true peace founded upon justice.

    (Make sure there is long enough for the people to pray in silence)

     Lord, in your mercy.

P.   Hear our prayer.

R. It is over a century since the desire for the unity of the churches

    brought about regular prayer for Christian Unity

    and all the churches have slacked off in their prayer.

    We pray that God will give us a renewed enthusiasm for that unity

    and that we may persevere in prayer

    which will make us the more ready and able

    to take our part in bringing it about.

 (Pause for silence etc.)

R. So many our world are suffering through natural and man-made disasters.

  We pray that God would help us to recognise

  that while we must persevere in prayer for all these

  we must also take our part in bringing aid to the suffering

  and building a more just and compassionate world.

  (Pause for silence etc.)

R. We pray one another

  that while we must persevere in praying for one another

  we must also be ready to act

  and to help our sisters and brothers in their need.

 (Pause for silence etc.)

R. In these moments of silence we remember all

    for whom we want to pray specially today

    and we resolve that our prayer will be persevering and constant.    

  (Pause etc.)

R. We ask the Lord’s mother to help us persevere in prayer.

    Hail Mary ….. death.

Pr. God your love for us is constant and never-failing

    help us to be constant and persevering in our prayer

even when you seem not to hear us.

We ask this in Jesus’ name.

P. Amen

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Note: These hymns have been chosen from different sources.

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All ye who seek a comfort sure (CFE31, L212, LHON127, TCH133)

Father hear the prayer we offer (CFE158, L933, TCH214)

Lord of all hopefulness (CFE386, L969, LHON450, TCH239),

Tell out my soul (CFE684, L880, LHON644, TCH264)

We have a gospel to proclaim(CFE778, L852)

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Key

CFE - Celebration Hymnal for Everyone

L – Laudate

LHON – Liturgical Hymns Old and New (Mayhew, 1999)

TCH – The Catholic Hymnbook (Gracewing)

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