CHRISTIAN PRAYER

The Revelation of Prayer: THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO PRAYER

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

What is prayer and what can the Old Testament teach us about it? (added 09.29.03)

Prayer, simply put, is communication between us and God, who never ceases to call all of us at all times to raise our hearts and minds to him and his omnipresence in our lives. The Old Testament presents several types and models of prayer, the most important of which is the Psalms, an indispensable and permanent feature of the church's prayer. The prayer of the patriarchs, such as Abraham and Jacob, are shown as battles of faith whose outcomes are certain as long as they persevere in God's love. The prayer of Moses as mediator foreshadow that of the one, true mediator Jesus Christ. The prayer of the prophets, such as Elijah, brought conversion and spiritual renewal to God's people. Nevertheless, the Psalms remains the most important Old Testament prayer, especially when examined in the light of Christ, in whom they are perfectly and definitively fulfilled. Their universal nature makes them suitable for all people everywhere, which is why the church relies on them so heavily in her daily office.

"Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God." - St. John Damascene

2568-2589; In Brief 2590-2597