"The
prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds."
(Sir 35:17)
Throughout the history of its lengthy exiles Israel often experienced a dramatic sense of helplessness in the face of events which no human force could have changed. It learned humility, that is, an attitude of total dependence and complete trust in God. Precisely in its condition as a humble and poor people, Israel repeatedly took refuge and found a response solely in the One who had established with it an eternal covenant.
From the messianic perspective, the awaited one is a humble king who enters Zion riding a donkey, because the God of Israel is, above all, the "God of the humble." Because all the expectations were fulfilled in Jesus, from his life and teachings we can learn true humility, that which makes our prayer acceptable to the Lord.
"The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds."
All of Jesus’ life is a lesson in humility. Even though he is God, he first became flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, then bread in the Eucharist, and finally "nothing" on the cross. He had said: "Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart" (Mt 11:29). In washing the feet of his disciples, he who was master and teacher bent down to perform the humblest of services. He had pointed out the little ones as a model, and he had entered Jerusalem riding a mule. In the end, he allowed himself to be crucified, he made himself nothing in order to obtain heaven for us.
Why did he do all this? What motivated the Son of God?
What he was doing was revealing to us his relationship with the Father, the way of loving of the Trinity, which is a mutual self emptying out of love, an eternal self-giving one to the other.
Jesus pours out to humanity this trinitarian love that reaches its apex precisely in the act of giving himself completely in his passion and death.Thus God shows his power in weakness. His is a love that elevates the world, precisely because it puts itself in the last place, on the lowest level of creation.
"The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds."
Truly humble, then, are those who, following the example of Jesus, make themselves nothing out of love for others, who put themselves in the presence of God with an attitude of total availability to his will, who are totally empty of themselves so as to allow Jesus to live in them.Their prayer will be granted because when they pronounce the word "Abba" (Father), it is no longer they who are praying; it is a prayer that obtains what it asks because it is put on their lips by the Holy Spirit.
The culminating point of Jesus’ life was when "he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence" (Heb 5:7-8), that is, because his prayer was inspired by his total obedience to the will of the Father, by his complete abandonment to him.
This, then, is the prayer that pierces the clouds and reaches the heart of God—a prayer of sons and daughters who rise above their distress and trustingly throw themselves into the arms of the Father.
The commentary to the Word of Life is translated in 90 different languages and dialects, and reaches more than 14 million people worldwide, through the press, and radio and TV programs. If you would like to read experiences of life related to this or to past " Words of Life," they can be found in Living City magazine, the monthly publication of the Focolare Movement. For information, or to subscribe, write to: Living City, P.O. Box 837, Bronx, NY 10465. To order the magazine, call: 1-800-462-5980. E-mail: livingcity2000@att.net or info@newcitypress.com or visit the website: https://www.newcitypress.com/livingcity.htm © 2001 - Living City of Focolare Movement - P.O. Box 837, Bronx, New York 10465Presented here with permission of the publishers
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