Matthew 21:22

"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith" (Matthew 21:22 RSV).

Question:

This sounds too fanciful, too easy, too magical. There must be a "catch." For example, praying for my young cousin to be healed of her cancer: Is the catch that I have "enough" faith? That I ask in the right kind of prayerful spirit? I have been wanting to ask someone about this for a long time. Thank you for the opportunity to ask here.

Comment:

I don't think it's a question of having 'enough' faith. It's a question of where that faith is directed. We always have 'enough' faith—nothing is being withheld. But my faith in the possibility of healing may be somewhat polluted by my faith that cancer is a real and fearsome thing. When we focus our intention on physical manifestations such as disease or lack, we are giving at least a part of our power of faith to those manifestations. To 'pray for a healing' indicates a belief that 'healing' is absent from the situation at hand. What to do instead? It seems that our faith needs always to be focused on the absolute Presence of the Divine in every situation, at all times. I have faith that your young cousin is, now and always, absolutely One with the Divine, that he/she is whole and perfect in every way—right now, in the midst of this challenge. I see that absolute perfection expressing in every cell, every thought, every breath. I release my limited understanding of how Good is expressing, and I simply call it forth through my faith.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed