Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
In working for the church, and even having a stint as a Youth Minister, I have taught about prayer many times. I've taught about acronyms to help us with prayer, Like ACTS. I've taught about Lectio Divina, Praying over one another, and the Examen. But the form of prayer I see in today's first reading is one that I need to give more attention.
In one sense the prayer we see is similar to discernment prayer but I think it has an even more unique role in our spiritual lives. I want to call the prayer we see modeled, the expectant prayer. It is a prayer that is offered because something has been promised but we lack the full understanding of what it will be. It is in some ways a prayer of hope, for it trusts God to deliver. It is in some ways a prayer for strength for the early church must keep the faith that the advocate will come. And it seems like so many other things. But notably, it is not a prayer said in solace.
The Spirit is our source of unity but was also poured out on a community already unified in expectant prayer. Remarkably, when we read the names of the people in that room, we see the early church saints. They are people I am still unified with in prayer. However, we are also given a model to gather in prayer in the expectation of our trustworthy God.
When I first sat with this reading I wondered if I ever do this. Then I realized this is so much of what Mass is. We are gathered in expectant prayer that God will fulfill the promises that have been given for our immediate future and for all time. We gather communally to renew that belief and we gather with all those in the first upper room. Recognizing that doesn't mean I always approach Mass that way because I have room to grow. However, I am encouraged to participate with that mindset. The first upper room was the pre-Pentecost house of prayer whereas Mass has become the pre-parousia (fulfillment of time when God is all in all) house of prayer.
One of the greatest difficulties in getting there is not intellectually accepting, but relationally engaging in it. In the face of the unknown, I often want to be alone. I often want to process through that which I don't know in my own little headspace. This week, I will attempt, and encourage you, to come to better know one of the Saints in the first upper room and seek to deepen your relationship with one the saints in today's upper room. As we set out into the hopeful unknown of God's promises, let us not do it alone. On the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary I know I will be choosing my mother who I need to get to know a little better.
- Spencer Hargadon