From the Prayer Journal of Fr. Jack Tolley

"Pray always, every day."
This week's contribution is from my 2002 Prayer Journal. Prayer has changed my life in so many ways. I thank God for the authors who share their reflections in
"Forward Day by Day," a daily devotional. I recommend them to you. St. John's provides a number of copies every three months, or you can subscribe to FDBD and they will mail them to your home. That's what I do.
Blessings, love, and hugs, Fr. Jack.

"Then Jesus told them in a parable about their need to pray always, and not lose heart"
Luke 18: 1-8.
This can be a hard life, following Jesus. The more we live into the life to which he called us, the more we can find ourselves alienated from the world in which we live. This world does not favor the radical message He offered: love those who hate you. See everyone as a brother or sister. Think first of feeding the poor, clothing the naked, healing the sick, visiting prisoners, taking care of widows and orphans. Seek first this enigmatic Kingdom of God, where all the rules are so different. It can be a hard road to follow. I find that although I am always inspired and moved by my reading and worship, in the day in and day out of my life this is not enough to sustain me. There are days when it seems just too much; when I have seen one too many tragic stories, one too many victims of indifference or greed. The only way I can return, day after day is to pray. My discipline of prayer has changed, as time has passed. Yet whatever form it takes, I know that if I do not pray daily, I will begin to feel lost, overwhelmed. I need this direct connection with the Holy One in order to be grounded. Without it,
I can lose heart. Pray always, every day. Save even a few moments for prayer, and lives, yours and others, will change in ways that astound you and glorify God."                  
( Forward Day by Day, Nov. 22, 2002 )