Years ago when my daughter was first learning to write her name it was time to select and share Valentine cards with her classmates.  She was determined to personally sign each and every card.  I sat with her at the dining room table as she painstakingly wrote her name in her best handwriting on each card.  As the evening went on, the stack of unsigned cards remained taller than those she had completed.  Worried that she might be getting tired (or perhaps wishing I could go do something else), I asked her if she would like to stop the project.  She looked at me with the most earnest expression and proclaimed “Mom, I am no quitter.”  Throughout her life she has demonstrated that she is “no quitter” in her work for social justice and her fidelity to family and friends.

My purposeful, industrious daughter comes to mind as I pray with today’s readings. In the first reading from Exodus we hear about the support Moses is giving his people by keeping his hands raised.  However, as he grew weary, Israel struggled in their fight against Amalek. Aaron and Hur supported Moses’ raised hands which gave the necessary strength to Joshua and the Israelites.  This image helps me appreciate the support I was giving my daughter’s efforts to be a good friend by staying with her at the table as she worked to be a good friend.  I am reminded to also appreciate the presence of God’s loving support in my life through prayer.

In today’s second reading from Timothy, we hear:  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.  What a powerful invitation to ground ourselves to pray with Scripture, especially through contemplative prayer where we can use all of our senses to put ourselves in the story. And at the same time, I am inspired to feel God’s presence throughout my day and have those experiences, emotions and encounters animate my prayer.

The widow in the parable shared by Jesus in the Gospel from Luke is the ultimate “no quitter.”  Her persistence in her requests to the hard-hearted judge is impressive.  She is strong, courageous, purposeful and focused.  I wonder what it might be like if I approached my prayer life with such strength, courage, purpose and focus.  As I listen to what Jesus is attempting to teach about prayer through this parable, I feel comforted by today’s responsorial psalm:  Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  Rather than try to figure out the perfect way to pray or the perfect time to pray or the perfect structure of my prayers, I simply need to put my trust in God to support my desire to pray.  I am comforted by that support and am inspired to be as persistent as the widow. 

St Ignatius had a lot to say about prayer.  In the Spiritual Exercises St Ignatius tells us that before we even begin to pray, we should “Ask God our Lord for what I want and desire.”  Being attentive and asking for a grace, a desire, helps me listen more deeply to God.  Beginning my prayer by asking for a grace reminds me that prayer is not a high-powered negotiation session for a particular request but rather a rich conversation with God.

The wants and desires that form the grace I put before God are limitless.  Perhaps I pray for the grace to be more attentive to God in my daily routine.  Or the grace for insight as I face big decisions.  Or the grace to celebrate the many gifts in my life.  Or perhaps the grace to …... you fill in the blank.

Inspired by the beautiful readings today and trusting in the vastness of God’s love, I am confident that when it comes to prayer, I am no quitter.