Presumption and Prayer

Author: Andrew Comiskey
October 22, 2019
Between the lines of what we know and what we do not, we pray. The powerlessness of not knowing invites us into the depths of mercy. There many waters cannot quench love (SS 8:7). Deeper than the swirl of suspicion and fear, we discover a warm current that envelopes and carries us like a mother cradles her infant. St. Faustina is right: We ‘are closer to God in His mercy than an infant at its mother’s heart’ (Diary, #423).

What we know: Pope Francis received Cardinal Wuerl’s resignation for collaborating with homosexual abuser McCarrick then touted Wuerl as noble and placed him on a committee that will select future bishops of America. What kind of mixed message is that? Persons sexually abused by adults bear a wound that only Jesus can heal; persons abused by clergy struggle to even say His Name. Let judgment begin at our house, O God. Pray courage for Pope Francis to manifest his intolerance of clergy sexual abuse and its collaborators with a sword, not a kiss. He must lose clever, loyal friends in order to gain back our trust.

What we don’t know: the intolerable pressure of leading the biggest group of Christians in the world. Lord, have mercy on Francis. May he be closer to God in His mercy than an infant at its mother’s heart.

What we know: President Trump says/does what he wants whether it is true or not, refuses to admit wrongdoing, and eviscerates those who stand in his way. Oh, by the way, he is the fiercest defender of an infant’s right-to-life of any president. Pray for his success in stopping abortion rights in the USA.

What we don’t know: the intolerable pressure of leading the most powerful nation on earth. And why no-one has the power to curb his blather. Lord, have mercy on Donald. May He be closer to God in His mercy than an infant at its mother’s heart.

What we know: the Youth Synod (mostly graying bishops) continues til the end of October and includes a fight to expand the Church’s assimilation of ‘diverse’ (LBBT+) identities and families. Pray that champions of the imago dei–what it means to be human–prevail. Pray also that from the fire will emerge orthodox leaders better able to engage a generation about how Jesus restores lives.

What we don’t know: how centuries of clerical compromise (with fellow adults) and abuse (of children) have blocked healing passageways for the sexually broken throughout the Catholic Church. To the degree that secrets and lies still keep us bound, Lord have mercy. May the still being-exposed–Church be nearer to God in His mercy than an infant at its mother’s heart.

What we know: our children are wandering in a wilderness of half-truths empowered by an irrational drive toward exhibitionism (Hmmm, sounds like my teen years…) They appear to have lost sight of any ‘Father’ who might call them onto anything harder and higher than their latest fancy. Creating one’s own gender universe is a dramatic example. Let’s pray for Jesus, who always shows willing hearts His Father, to guide our loved ones into true love and identity.

What we don’t know: what is actually going on inside our loved ones. We cannot know another’s deepest heart and must respect that gap. Just think of what you now know about yourself. You weren’t hiding all these years; you just couldn’t see it yet! So too with those we love.
So in these forty days of Becoming Good News we slow down, we pray, and we cry out for mercy that the few words we say might be a bridge to the Father’s love. We impart best when giving from the overflow of this divine bond of love. May we and our loved ones be closer to God in His mercy than infants at their mother’s heart.



We’ll be starting our prayer/ fasting time on October 10th for anyone who wants to join. If you’d like to pray along with us, let us know and we can send you a book or you can get it through kindle here: https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Good-News-Andrew-Comiskey-ebook/dp/B07F95JKP5!

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