Every Lent we priests read a passage from the ancient Catholic author Tertullian. The reading speaks about the power of prayer. This is a natural enough theme in Lent, to read such things about prayer. But I am ashamed to say I do not ever remember taking in the full comprehension about the central point in this reading (it happens to be Thursday of the 3rd Week of Lent that we read this annually). This Lent I have been struck by, and often reminded of, the claim Tertullian was making, barely 100 years after the death of the Apostles. He is describing a new “greater” power that Christ gave to prayer. Let me give you some of his statements. (All from, https://www.piercedhearts.org/treasures/spirituality/tertullian_spiritual_offering_prayer.htm)
Of old [in the Old Testament narratives], prayer was able to rescue from fire and beasts and hunger, even before it received its perfection from Christ. How much greater then is the power of Christian prayer. No longer does prayer bring an angel of comfort to the heart of a fiery furnace, or close up the mouths of lions, or transport to the hungry food from the fields. …
[This seems odd. How strange is this “greater” power of prayer if it no longer works swift and such impressive relief when the righteous are in need!]
In the past prayer was able to bring down punishment, rout armies, withhold the blessing of rain. [Yes. Cannot prayer continue to works such wonders?! What then has changed?]
Now, however, the prayer of the just turns aside the whole anger of God, keeps vigil for its enemies, pleads for persecutors. Is it any wonder that it can call down water from heaven when it could obtain fire from heaven as well? Prayer is the one thing that can conquer God. But Christ has willed that it should work no evil, and has given it all power over good.
Its only art is to call back the souls of the dead from the very journey into death, to give strength to the weak, to heal the sick, to exorcise the possessed, to open prison cells, to free the innocent from their chains. Prayer cleanses from sin, drives away temptations, stamps out persecutions, comforts the fainthearted, gives new strength to the courageous, brings travelers safely home, calms the waves, confounds robbers, feeds the poor, overrules the rich, lifts up the fallen, supports those who are falling, sustains those who stand firm.
How powerful!
Today we heard the words from Isaiah 53: “We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all.”
Prior to the moment that Jesus prayed for you and for me on the cross, were we his friends, or were we his enemies? We were estranged, at enmity with God. And then Jesus brought a new power to prayer.
Today on Good Friday we enter into the prayer of Jesus in a way unlike any other day. We take part in prayers that do indeed start by asking for blessings on those we consider friends – the Pope, the clergy, all Christians. But we must go deeper into the prayer of Jesus. We go on to pray for those who are this day estranged from God, those who do not look to God at all. Those who do not even believe in God.
Go here to read and prayer the solemn petitions of Good Friday (posted by the Catholic Diocese of Clifton).
Ubi Petrus VT 