fr paul's spiritual reflection

In prayer God searches for us.  He wishes to bring about a communion of love with us who he has created and revealed to us in his son, Jesus Christ, his word made flesh.  Our prayer is a response to His call.  There is only one prayer, and that is the prayer of Christ.  It is a prayer that continues in our hearts day and night, and is the fruit of the Holy Spirit living in us.
    "if any man is thirsty, let him come to me!
    Let him come and drink, who believes in me.
    As scripture says, from his breast will flow
    fountains of living water".  (John.7:38)
So prayer is not something I do but is something that takes place in me.  It is the Holy Spirit who prays in me.
    "The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead
    lives in you........
    When we cannot choose words in order to pray properly,
    the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way
    that can never be put into words.........  (Romans.8)
So prayer is mainly not learning how to do something, but learning what needs to take place so that the Holy Spirit can move freely within us.  All methods of prayer are about establishing within us a state of receptivity.  That is what our journey in life is all about, it is the purpose and goal for which we have come into being.  It is the stream of love passing through us back to the Father.
The journey of prayer requires a change of life, a commitment.  Clear out the rubbish of past faults and mistakes of selfishness, learn to begin again.  Slow down, be still and listen and allow God to speak.