Someone's Answered Prayer: is You

~~~ Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25 ~~~ Psalm 138 ~~~ Matthew 7:7-12 ~~~

Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Queen Esther is a good example for how we are to pray.

She literally threw herself at the feet of God and prayed for him to intercede.

She purposefully made herself vulnerable.

So often we want to appear strong not only before our friends but also before God.

We cannot grasp the meaning of relying solely upon God.

Esther prayed for God to put the right words in her mouth.

How often do we ask God to give us the gift of his words?

I would guess not very often.

If we do ask God for his words to be spoken by us...

we must wait and listen attentively with an open heart.

The homilist today offered something for us to ponder.

He said, "Have you ever thought that you might be the answer 

to someone's prayer?" 

We tend to expect God to be the one to answer our prayers, but it could very well be another person. God uses all ways to answer our prayers.

We are part of the Body of Christ, therefore it should not come as a surprise

 that we could be used by God to answer another's prayers.

When I stop to consider that possibility it brings me joy.

It brings me to joy to reflect on how God might use me to respond to another.

He might use me as answer without my even knowing...

that is even more beautiful.

In Esther's prayer she also recalls precious memories from her childhood.

"...As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers
that you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you."

She returned to something that had made an impression on her as a young child.

Could this have contributes to her child like prayer before God?

Often when we are in stress we revert back to behaviors from our childhood.

They are automatic, almost reflexive and they often bring us comfort.

Finally Esther ends her prayer in a most beautiful way.

"...turn our mourning into gladness
and our sorrows into wholeness."

Who thinks to ask God to transform one feeling into another?

This is not about conversion of heart;

this is about turning water into fine wine.

This is about turning the bread into his precious Body...

the Eucharist turns our brokenness into wholeness.

Esther gives us a model for how we should pray, not just in time of crisis, 

but on a regular basis.

I invite you to read this passage from the book of Esther

keeping in mind how you can imitate her form of prayer.

Esther is an example of a woman who has a strong faith in the power of prayer.

Pray first and then everything else will fall into its proper place.

Lord, grant me the unwavering trust in the power of my prayers.

You are the answer to someone's prayer today.

Let it be through the power of prayer.