Today St. Paul urges us: "Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Many of us have a false idea that prayer, if it is any good, is filled with light and peace, and heavenly consolations. Quite the opposite. It can be difficult, tiresome and, at times, even boring, but it is never useless. As we place ourselves over and over in the presence of God, we will gradually, with God's grace, come to live our whole lives in God's
presence.

We will find that over time, we will begin to take on the mind and heart of Jesus Christ. When we are with other people, at work, taking care of our family, relaxing on vacation, we will start to see life differently.

Our daily worries and concerns will no longer be the most important things in our life.
Our God-awareness will gradually take over and we will see life differently. Anxiety will slowly leave our lives to be replaced by the peace that Jesus promised us.

I don't want to forget one very important word that St. Paul mentions as he talks about prayer. That word is "thanksgiving". When we pray, we need to pray with thanksgiving in our hearts. None of us really owns anything. All that we have is a gift from God. Our very lives belong to God. As children of a loving God, we need to nurture the attitude of gratitude within ourselves. Life is different for a person who lives with gratefulness in his or her heart. I thank God for you and for me, and for all that is.
                                                       Peace, Fr. John