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“Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about
anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by
my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in
my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:19–20
This is a bold and awe-inspiring promise from our Lord. This
passage reveals Jesus’ desire that we pray with others, uniting our
prayer as one and offering it to the Father. Jesus says that when
we do this in union with His prayer, our prayer will be
answered.
The first thing to note is that this passage could easily be
misunderstood. For example, is Jesus telling us that if two or more
people get together and pray that it rains, then it will happen?
Certainly not. The key to understanding this passage is found in
the last line: “...there am I in the midst of them.” This means
that the goal of gathering together with two or more people in
prayer is to unite our unified prayer to the prayer of Jesus. The
Father always hears and answers the prayer of the Son. No matter
what the Son asks the Father, it is granted. Thus, this passage
tells us that the goal of gathering together in prayer with others,
that is, with the Church, is to unite ourselves with the one and
eternal prayer of God the Son. This is first and foremost fulfilled
within the Sacred Liturgy.
When we come together in the Liturgy, our prayer is always heard.
Why? Because the Liturgy is first an action of God the Son in which
He invites us, the Church, to share. And the prayer that is offered
is the one and eternal prayer by which God the Son asks the Father
to bring salvation to all those who accept the saving action of His
sacrifice on the Cross. When we join in this prayer, it is
granted.
What type of prayer is not answered? First, God does not grant that
which fails to serve His mission. Second, if we pray for God’s will
but fail to do our part, then our prayer cannot be answered. For
example, if you pray that you overcome a particular sin but then
fail to respond to the grace God gives, then this is not the fault
of God. Third, praying for vengeance on those who have hurt us is
ineffective. And fourth, praying for the conversion of one who
refuses to repent will also be unable to be fulfilled, unless they
ultimately repent. These are but a few examples.
What type of prayer is effective? As already mentioned, the prayer
of the Liturgy as the one Sacrifice of Christ is always heard when
we participate in it. But there are other ways that our united
prayer will be fulfilled with certainty. For example, if you gather
with others and together pray for the grace of deeper conversion,
you can be certain that the grace will be offered. It is then up to
you to open your heart to that grace so that it is effective. Or if
you pray that God offers His mercy to someone caught in sin, you
can be certain that that grace will be offered, even if the person
refuses to accept it. And the list could go on. Simply put, if we
gather with others and seek to unite our prayer to the one and
perfect prayer of God the Son as it is offered to the Father in
Heaven, then that prayer of the Son in which we share will be
answered. Perhaps the best way to pray together in this way is to
pray the “Our Father” prayer with another. This prayer is always
heard and answered by the Father since it is the prayer given to us
by the Son.
Reflect, today, upon God the Son praying to the Father. What is His
perfect prayer? What does He ask the Father? Look for ways in which
you can join with others to unite your own prayer to this prayer of
the Son of God. Do this first and foremost in the Sacred Liturgy,
but look for other ways in which you can practice this form of
prayer. Praying together with others in union with the one prayer
of Jesus will always be answered by the Father in
Heaven.
My perfect Lord, all that You ask of the Father is granted to
You. Please draw me and all the members of Your Church into Your
perfect prayer to the Father. May we participate in this prayer
especially through the Sacred Liturgy, and also as we gather as two
or more. May we pray only with You and in accord with Your perfect
will. Jesus, I trust in You.
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Featured image above: Three Camaldolese Monks in Ecstatic
Prayer By Alessandro Magnasco, via Web Gallery of Art
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