A Time to Pray, a Time to Play

Imagine losing a soccer game by one goal - scored in the first three seconds of the game! At the very opening of a game in Brazil, the Corinthians scored the game's only goal while the goalie for the Rio Preto team was still on one knee, praying for victory!

There's a time to pray and a time to play, a time to be still and a time to act (see Ecclesiastes 3). Moses had to learn that principle. When he was waiting and praying for God to protect his flock from Pharaoh's changing army, the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me" Tell the Israelites to move on...so thay can go through the sea on dry ground" (Ex 14:15-16).

 All prayer is good. We are even told to "pray continually" (1 Thes 5:17) - not, of course, by continual formal prayer; the term "continually" means that a spirit of prayer must permeate all we do. But there are times when formal prayer would be out of place and contrary to God's will. It would be wrong for a mother to be praying in church at a time when her family needs her at home to prepare their dinner. God made Moses adjust his prayer timing. It took a soccer game defeat to teach that to a goalie.

Both the timing and the object of prayer are Spirit-inspired: "We do not know that we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us...in accorance with God's will" (Rom 8:26-27).

This excerpt is from the book One-Minute Meditations for Busy People, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/video recordings can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408 or www.Catholicbooks.net