Written by Barb Spies, OFS, Director of Mission Services and Pastoral Care

I listen to the prayer intentions at church, thinking about what we are asking of God. We ask for caring leaders of government, we ask for peace, we ask for justice, and we ask for special needs of people we know and love. We ask for food for the hungry, clean water for people to drink, and fair employment for those seeking jobs. We present God with our wish list and wait for God to act. But what if we look at prayer differently? What if our prayers are meant to bring us to action?

How would our world change if we saw prayer as a prompt to act? When I ask for caring government leaders, I am prompted to call those who represent me to urge them to act on behalf of the citizens they represent. When I want peace in my community, I can model loving relationships with those around me. For peace between nations, again contacting government leaders and supporting public events for peace are actions I can take. Food for the hungry and fair housing won’t just appear after prayer. People must act for justice in our world, for fair employment, for fair wages.

The prophet Amos spoke to the people of God to alert them to God’s expectations. “Even though you offer me your burnt-offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs. I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:22-24) We could fill our churches with singing God’s praises, but if we don’t walk out of those doors to live out the Gospel, we are missing the point.

St. Francis moved from prayer to action. His entire ministry operated on this principle. Blessed Mary Angela Truskowska, foundress of the Felician Sisters, spent much time in prayer. Her prayers guided her to act. She went out and served those who most needed her care in her community. Widows and orphans with no means of support needed someone to act to help them in addition to praying for them. Blessed Mary Angela’s prayers prompted her to act. May we pray for a heart that loves enough that we will also want the best for all people and work to provide that.

Blessed Angela: “Never look for self in anything but always seek the glory of God and the good of your neighbor.”