Rediscovering Intercession

I reflect on the need to rediscover the power of intercession in our spiritual and everyday lives.

I am always fascinated by the sacrifices soldiers make for each other at the battlefront. They put their lives on the line to bring wounded comrades to safety, often carrying them on their shoulders amidst the whizzing sound of blazing bullets over their heads. No weight of a wounded friend is unbearable in the face of war and deadly bullets. For me, the military mantra “leave no one behind on the battlefield” is a sacred call.

Consider your spiritual life. Isn’t it the case that sometimes you need somebody to pray for you? Other times, you feel the weight of some other person’s burdens prompting you to become an intercessor. Responding to those promptings is a blessing.

Often in our spiritual life, the faith of the family and community of believers lifts us. For example, the prayers of your mom, who ceaselessly mentions your name during her daily Masses, Bible readings, rosaries, or other prayers, go a long way. So also are the prayers of your friends who share your prayer burden when they hear the news that you or your loved one was diagnosed with a terminal disease. These prayer-support systems carry you on the wings of faith to Him, who alone can help you. You may not know how much they help. God does.

Granted, you may not even believe in the power of those prayers, but your doubts wouldn’t stop God from doing what He is capable of doing. Be assured of this: God is able, abundantly able to save us.

How the Lord Responds to Intercessions

The following inspiring example is how Jesus responds to intercessions for you or others. Matthew 9:1-8 records the story of the Lord Jesus healing a person with paralysis. In this case, Jesus didn’t simply respond to the person with paralysis because of his faith. Scripture reports how the faith of the people drew Jesus to the man suffering from paralysis. “And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven’” (Matthew 9:2). After that, he heals the man as he will heal us too.

Perhaps there are people around you, in your family, at your workplace, in your community, or among your online friends who need your faith support to reignite their own faith. It would be wonderful if we, as believers, rediscover the power of intercession.

Rediscover the Power of Intercession

Contrary to the name-calling, bad blood in many communities, and the spirit of vengeance and hatred due to real or imagined injustice against us or someone we love, may we become intercessors. Believers are the salt of the earth and light of the world as they provide for what is lacking. They model the way. They spice the horrible taste of the world with the graciousness of prayer, sacrifices, and love. Their intercessions avail much.

How about we take up the petitions of the spiritually paralyzed and those who are emotionally, psychologically, and mentally crippled? What if we share in the burdens of those who carry the wounds of habitual sinful behavior, including those who forcibly oppose our faith, asking for grace of healing? Being their intercessors before God shows we care for their wellbeing. It is the way of the Gospel. Rediscovering our roles as intercessors can help much.

In conclusion, as our Gratia Vobis Ministries’ faith in action service of love this new day and new month, how about we make a commitment to saying a prayer for a person each day or week? You know those in your circle who need lifted in prayer. You know the situations in your community that call for divine intervention. A commitment to intercession in those matters is a holy service. Give it a try. There is a blessing in doing so.

God love you. God bless you.

[Readings: Genesis 22:1B-19; Matthew 9:1-8]