The Prayer Passed to the Generations

Prayer-Soldier

The Prayer Passed to the Generations

Scripture:

And the Lord said: The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha is multiplied, and their sin is become exceedingly grievous. I will go down and see whether they have done according to the cry that is come to me; or whether it be not so, that I may know. And they turned themselves from thence, and went their way to Sodom: but Abraham as yet stood before the Lord. And drawing nigh, he said: Will you destroy the just with the wicked? If there be fifty just men in the city, shall they perish withal? And will you not spare that place for the sake of the fifty just, if they be therein? Far be it from you to do this thing, and to slay the just with the wicked, and for the just to be in like case as the wicked; this is not beseeming you: you who judge all the earth, will not make this judgment.

And the Lord said to him: If I find in Sodom fifty just within the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake. And Abraham answered, and said: Seeing I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord, whereas I am dust and ashes. What if there be five less than fifty just persons? Will you for five and forty destroy the whole city: And he said: I will not destroy it, if I find five and forty. And again he said to him: But if forty be found there, what will you do? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of forty.

Lord, said he, be not angry, I beseech you, if I speak: What if thirty shall be found there? He answered: I will not do it, if I find thirty there. Seeing, said he, I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord: What if twenty be found there? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty. I beseech thee, said he, be not angry, Lord, if I speak yet once more: What if ten shall be found there? And he said: I will not destroy it for the sake of ten. ( Genesis 18:20-32 )

Buried with him in baptism: in whom also you are risen again by the faith of the operation of God who has raised him up from the dead. And you, when you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has quickened together with him, forgiving you all offenses: Blotting out the handwriting of the decree that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he has taken the same out of the way, fastening it to the cross. ( Colossians 2:12-14 )

And it came to pass that as he was in a certain place praying, when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him: Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said to them: When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.

And he said to them: Which of you shall have a friend and shall go to him at midnight and shall say to him: Friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine is come off his journey to me and I have not what to set before him. And he from within should answer and say: Trouble me not; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot rise and give you. Yet if he shall continue knocking, I say to you, although he will not rise and give him because he is his friend; yet, because of his importunity, he will rise and give him as many as he needs. And I say to you: Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asks receives: and he that seeks finds: and to him that knocks it shall be opened: And which of you, if he ask his father bread, will he give him a stone? Or a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he reach him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father from heaven give the good Spirit to them that ask him? ( Luke 11:1-14 )

Reflection:

It is the way of the generations that values are preserved or lost through the children. What is learned in youth will be carried into the time where the one who has learned becomes the one who teaches the youth to come. Along the path there are many snares. Those who learn and follow the ways of the world spread what is sown within them. Those who learn and follow the ways of their Creator hold within their hearts blessings which may be passed from soul to soul and spread many fold.

Through the generations, cities and nations have known blessings through their faith, while others have fallen to struggle and tribulation through their worship of the ways of the world. As evil takes its root, the soul darkens and corrupts. If it is passed from generation to generation, the cities and nations, once blessed, will only know misery and strife. Blessed are the hearts which receive the Holy Spirit, for through them will salvation be passed to families, communities and the generations to follow.

The faithful must remain vigilant in prayer, for as He hears what is raised, He will grant His mercy to the dwellers of the land. Through the voices He hears raised in prayer, He will know the children of His creation care and seek Him in faith. He will hear their cries and yield comfort for their souls. Through prayer, He will fill the hearts of the faithful to guide them away from the iniquities of the world. Though many may turn from Him, the land may still be blessed through the faithful prayer of the few.

He came to us to pass the Word through the generations. He came to receive the burden of the sins of the world so that all might be resurrected from the death sin brings. He came to us to bring the Holy Spirit so that each heart which receives it may grow in faith, love and the blessing of His Word. What was done, was done for the generations should they choose to receive it.

Through His sacrifice, each soul has been given a path back from their sin. He taught His disciples to pray not only so they might know the Father, but so that they may teach others so that all may know the Father. What was taught to a few has spread through the generations for the blessings of all so that all may receive forgiveness. Through prayer, we may praise Him. Through prayer, we submit our will to Him. Through prayer, we may ask Him to care for us. Through prayer, we may ask Him to care for others. Through prayer, we may ask Him to deliver us from sin. Through prayer, we may ask that He grant us strength to leave behind the temptations of the world so that we give no fuel to evil.

Blessed are we that our God is a loving God, for despite the sins of our past, He offers forgiveness and the path to an eternal future of love. It is His promise to us. It is the new covenant which He sealed through His Son. It is the new covenant He asks each parent to pass to their child, and as each child becomes the parent, He asks that they too shall teach those of the coming generation how to pray so that every soul might join Him in heaven.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier