It does not come as a surprise to anyone about how loaded, layered and complicated praying for our world can be. I do not know your story; what has been triggering you these past few weeks, what you have seen on socials and heard from friends. Yes, the chaos of the world is right in front of our faces the second we turn on our phones.
When the chaos of our world feels overwhelming, perhaps we can take a few pointers from Jesus as He prayed for His disciples in His final hours. I was struck by a few verses in John 17:
“...I pray for them, … for they are yours.” (verse 9)
“Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name…” (verse 11)
“...for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world”. (verse 14)
A biblical commentary highlights that Jesus is asking His Father for specific things for His followers (including future disciples like you and me): ongoing protection for believers, continuous sanctification, unity among all believers, and joy in the mission. It seems to me that Jesus is praying for the disposition of people’s hearts when He says, “I do not pray for the world, but for those you have given me”.
To pray for our world, maybe we ought to begin with ourselves and our smaller circles of influence. G.K Chesterton famously wrote an answer to a newspaper question, “What is wrong with the world”?
His response?
“I am”.
Here are four principles that help me assist in the examination of my heart; specifically the examination of the things Jesus prayed for: protection, sanctification, unity and joy in the mission.
First Principle: Protection – Jesus is King. Fr. John Riccardo, from ACTS XXIX, preaches this plainly: Jesus is Lord, the King. God has not abandoned us and is in control. God has WON the fight. This worldly kingdom is not meant for us; we are meant to be with God forever in heaven. It should not come as a shock when we encounter suffering and torment on this side of heaven; saints have explicitly stated that suffering goes hand in hand with salvation. Christ has won the ultimate victory; there is however, an ongoing battle for our heart’s loyalty.
Questions to Ponder: When we look at the state of the world, do we actually believe that Jesus is King? Or do we feel He is growing more and more distant, thus, we begin to despair? Do we believe the Holy Spirit is alive and well, even when there is chaos all around us?
Second & Third Principle: Sanctification & Unity – We were warned this would not be easy. No political party nor representative or ideology will perfectly portray what is truly meant by truth, goodness and beauty. All systems and people will come up short and can not be the Saviour.
In Charles Spurgeon’s theological works, there is a sentiment that goes something like this: "The devil knows that what he cannot destroy, he divides”. Proverbs 6:16-19 states, “There are six things the Lord hates…and the one who sows discord among kindred”. We are not called to simply tolerate our neighbours, we are called to love them…even if we disagree with them. We must see the human being created in His image and likeness before the beliefs they stand for.
Questions to ponder: Do we truly believe that God uses everything for good, even amidst horrible circumstances? Am I sowing division or unity among my neighbours, those who agree/ disagree with me? Am I choosing wisely the words in which I engage in conversation with my neighbours, aware that personal story and trauma influence beliefs?
Fourth Principle: Joy in the mission – We are called to be light! When my son was about six months old, I had this thought: “I have done MANY hard things, why does this feel so much harder?” I picked up a book by Abbie Halberstadt called “Hard is not the Same Thing as Bad”. What a perspective shift! Some days, as I drive to get a coffee that feels like survival in a cup, I wear my ‘exhausted new mother’ disposition like a badge. But Scripture reminds us: “Do not be like the Pharisees who are gloomy”, letting people know they are fasting.
St. Paul reminds us: live in the world but do not conform to its tasteless and dead-end values! Saints also echo this sentiment: sometimes our most demanding circumstances are opportunities for growth, refinement and spiritual strengthening (Romans 5:28). And so, I close my eyes, let the tears fall and offer up trying times for the future world that my son Miro will one day inhabit.
Questions to ponder: Do I see suffering, my daily crosses as opportunities for growth? Do I try to bring light into dark places or do I simply want to disappear/escape because ‘it’s too hard’? Am I consulting Jesus on how to go about hard situations with perseverance, resilience and gratitude?
With all of these principles in mind, I ask myself: if I am so caught up in the emotions of disorderedness of my own heart, when and how am I going to find time to pray for the people in the world?
You are not alone if your heart breaks for the world. St. Paul’s writings are riddled with encouragement of how to deal, think and pray for ‘the world’. There are so many saints who saw a problem within their midst and attempted to make the world a better place with what they felt the Holy Spirit called them to. They started with interior conversions, and many went on to build schools, orders and monasteries. Some dedicated their lives to serving the poor, sick and marginalized in small communities like Molokai, El Salvador and Peru. Many were warriors and reformers, even reforming clergy and the papacy!
Starting with the disposition of their hearts, then dedicating their lives to serve in small and big ways, all set the world ablaze.
