(written in 2002)
Whether a Christian or a Buddhist, almost everybody has a praying spirit. Furthermore, we need more prayer these days. Especially with the anti-American movement growing and the presidential election, we are in need of prayer from the heart. As St. Paul encourages us, we need to pray at all times and never lose heart! St. Luke says that Jesus always prays by himself first. "He would always go off to some place where he could be alone and pray." While talking about the importance of prayer to his disciples, Jesus became the best example of prayer. He enjoyed a moment of silence, peace, unity, and communion by means of prayer. The more I live this religious life, the deeper the necessity of intense and endless prayer prior to the apostolic missionary activity. Especially in the midst of difficult trials, prayer is a cure-all and a stepping stone.
Among evangelical writers, Luke often mentions prayer. The words “prosyukomai” (pray, ask for) and “prosyuke” (prayer) are used 47 times in the Gospel of Luke and in the Acts of Apostles; 17 times in Matthew in relation to the subject of true and right piety; 12 times in Mark in relation to faith, action, and forgiveness. In Luke, the prayer is presented as that of gratitude, praise, petition, intercession, forgiveness, death, etc. Jesus prayed at every important moment. Seeing Jesus pray all the time, his disciples realized that Jesus was deeply united with God and shared a true communion with Him through prayer. The Lord's prayer is regarded as the model prayer. The Lord's prayer first invokes the name of God our Father and asks about the primary value of God's kingdom and the secondary material value of the daily bread. It also asks about the ethical value of the forgiveness of sins and deliverance from temptation.
Jesus' apostles and disciples in the early Church felt the importance of prayer ahead of missionary activity. In fact, the early Church was born and grew up out of prayer; it was strengthened, encouraged, and matured by the power of prayer from the very beginning. Prayer was a mental and spiritual support of the early Church. So, they gathered with one heart in the Temple every day, praised God, and concentrated on praying. In this way, they harmonized contemplation and activity. Their healing ministry, miracles, and signs were accompanied by prayer because they believed that both "prayer and the service of the word" were the primary and fundamental values in Christian life. They lifted up their voice to God altogether.
Paul, the apostle of Gentiles, has never given up the prayer even while wandering at the crossroads of life. He is the most idealistic minister of the early Church who lived and acted by the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit. Characteristics of prayer presented in the Acts of Apostles are that prayer is mentioned in relation to vision, fasting, the Judean way of worship, kneeling, laying hands on for healing, or the Holy Spirit.
Facing the globalization of the cyber world, our contemporary Church needs a balanced life of meditation and activity. As Jesus, Paul, and many other followers show us the life of prayer and meditation situated in the midst of activity like "the eye of the typhoon", we have to follow the same example. It's a pity that many modern people are more concerned about building construction, management, expansion, style, and appearance than the service of God's words, prayer, and spirituality. Due to their attention to outward appearance and development, they are naturally deprived of their inner energy, zeal, and time. We need to stay awake and renew our inner spirit.
I think that prayer and mission, contemplation and activity, are closely interrelated and even subordinate to each other. Prayer leads to action, and action leads to prayer. We pray about our experiences, people, and situations. We need a prayerful attitude to live a better life with higher value. Prayer and activity are something like exhaling and inhaling, contraction, and relaxation. Prayer is truly "a constant companion for the mission" throughout life. While breathing and encountering the most peaceful presence, I want to experience healing and open my heart.
The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ Dec. 18, 2002
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