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Scripture Reflections
01 July 2013, Monday, 13th Week, Ordinary Time
THE HEART OF AN INTERCESSOR
SCRIPTURE READINGS: GEN 18:16-33; MT 8:18-22

One of the most significant phenomena in the Church today is the growing consciousness of the importance of intercession for the Church and the world, and not merely intercession for one’s personal needs. Too often, in most parishes and those active in ministry, the focus tends to be on organization, activities and strategies, but very little on prayer and intercession for our projects. Most groups tend to be functional and reliant on themselves, rather than a total dependence on God’s grace. This perhaps explains why those in ministry hardly grow in the depth of their relationship with the Lord, although they are very active. And the truth is; everyone is called to be an intercessor. It is not a task to be assigned to some “professional” intercessors.

So what does it take to be an effective intercessor? In other words, what is the heart of an intercessor? Let us consider the pre-requisites of a good intercessor.

Firstly, the intercessor must first know God; otherwise he would not know how to approach Him. Isn’t this true in human relationships? If we make a request of someone, we must know him somewhat, so that we can put forth a persuasive case. In business transactions, Asians know the importance of cultivating “guan xi”, or friendship, before discussing deals. If many intercede without faith and confidence, it is because they do not know the heart of God, and hence are diffident as to whether the Lord will hear their prayers.

Abraham knew God intimately. He knew that God is a just and loving God. He will not do anything to harm His people. And so whilst recognizing the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, God will not destroy the town and kill the innocent ones. Indeed, the biblical understanding of God is one of justice and mercy, which are not diametrically opposed, but the same aspect of His love for humanity. His justice is His mercy, and His mercy is His justice. Whatever is done is always for the good of man, never to destroy him, even when he sins.

In addition, Abraham knew that God is a God who feels with us in our suffering. He is a God of compassion and tenderness. He listens to us like a father listens to a child. He is patient with us and is willing to hear us out in our pains and struggles. This intimate knowledge of God gave Abraham the confidence to bargain with Him.

Besides the pre-requisites, the intercessor must cultivate the right attitudes in living out the life of an intercessor. He must have a heart of compassion for others like the Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Identification with our fellowmen and their sufferings and needs are necessary for intercessors to pray effectively and fervently for them. This was the case of Abraham. He welcomed the three visitors, and provided them hospitality knowing how hot it was that day. And Abraham gave thought to the destruction of the two notorious sinful cities, especially how some good people might perish as a consequence.

Secondly, an intercessor must have a heart of sacrifice and self-denial. That was what Jesus told a would-be disciple when he wanted to follow Him. Jesus warned him that he would have to give up his worldly attachments, luxuries and conveniences of life. Indeed, Jesus remarked, “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Is our love for others so deep and sincere that we are willing to sacrifice our time and even comfort, to intercede for them before the Lord? Only when we are ready to put others before self, can we identify with them and pray to God as if the petitions are our very own.

Thirdly, an intercessor must be committed to the people of God. This would even entail sacrificing our time with loved ones as Jesus told another potential disciple who wanted to fulfill his obligation to the family first. Jesus without mincing His words said, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead.” Jesus’ teaching on the demands of discipleship spells out the costs of commitment, lest we give up easily when the going gets tough. Without sacrifices, commitment and perseverance in prayers, nothing much can be achieved.

Fourthly, an intercessor must be willing to submit to God’s will. This was what Jesus told the scribes who said, “Master, I will follow you wherever you go.” To follow Jesus is to surrender our will to Him. In life, we might have the best intentions of doing something for the Lord, for His people and for our loved ones. But good intention is not good enough, unless that is what the Lord wills. Quite often we get ourselves into trouble, even when doing good for others, simply because we were fulfilling our own will and desire rather than that of the Lord. Abraham, even whilst haggling with the Lord for the people, recognized and respected the sovereignty of God’s will. The first reading makes it clear that ultimately God is in charge for He is the one that closes the conversation with Abraham. And Abraham after speaking his mind, did not insist that the Lord do what he requested for. In the final analysis, we must align our will with God’s. This implies that we must be people of faith and obedience. If God listened to Abraham, it was because of his faith in the supreme love of God, and obedience to His word.

Fifthly, we must believe in the power of intercession. We must believe in the power of prayer to change lives and influence the hearts of those whom we pray for. From Abraham, we learn how to pray with boldness and perseverance. Abraham believed that God would consider our needs seriously. Indeed, not only does God hear us, but our prayers also affect people’s lives. We must learn from the boldness and persistent attitude of Abraham when it comes to intercession for His people. We have Jesus as our example of an intercessor. Throughout His ministry, He invites us to pray to His Father; to ask, seek and knock always (cf Mt 7:7). He himself interceded for us before He went to the passion (cf John 17). The letter of Hebrews says that Jesus is standing before the throne of God and now “lives to make intercession” for us (cf Heb 7:25). Finally, He is also our “advocate with the Father” when we sin (cf 1Jn 2:1).

How then can we acquire the heart of such an intercessor after Christ, the great High Priest and our Intercessor? We must have a firsthand experience of God’s mercy and love through Christ. That was the experience of the psalmist when he prayed, “The Lord is kind and merciful. He pardons all your iniquities; he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction; he crowns you with kindness and compassion. Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. He will not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever. Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.” So we can pray with confidence, knowing the heart of our Father. We are His chosen people and His children. We must pray with the same confidence of Christ. This is what it means to pray in His name.

Secondly, to pray in His name means that we must pray in the Holy Spirit. When Jesus told His disciples that they would have no place even to rest their heads, He was also helping them to realize that the only true rest we can have, is resting in the bosom of God’s heart. When we allow the Holy Spirit to live in us, He will pray in, and through, us. Hence, St Paul could say “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20). St Paul gave his heart to the Lord completely without reservation, and therefore the Lord could work marvels in and through Him. Not only did he follow Jesus in His suffering, but also in giving himself completely to the service of His Father and the people of God.

Finally, above all, for an intercessor to be effective, he must seek to be a true disciple of Christ. St James reminds us, “Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects” (Jas 5:16). Holiness of life is the sure way to have our prayers answered, and has a powerful and salutary effect on those whom we pray for.

The call to mission is urgent as Jesus pointed out to the aspirant who said, “‘Sir, let me go and bury my father first.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead.’” But mission cannot be carried out without prayers and intercession. The former is the powerhouse and engine for all activities carried out in the name of the Lord. This predisposition to the primacy of grace makes our work truly the work of God, and not fundamentally our work. Otherwise, we become proud and arrogant. Like the good servant, “when you have done everything you were told to do, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty’” (Lk 17:10).

Written by Most Rev Msgr William Goh
Archbishop of Singapore
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