Why prayer and service matter when life gets tough
Trying times? Prayer and service can keep you steady.
Monsignor Matt Garcia recently led a Lenten recollection for the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (Alabang East Chapter) on March 22 at Somerset Alabang. His talk, “Praying and Serving in Times of Adversity,” reminded everyone that just as the body needs care, so does the soul. And what better way to do that than through prayer and service?
Pope Francis declared 2024 as the Year of Prayer. He wants people to rediscover the value of being still, listening, and strengthening their relationship with God. A guide called “Teach Us to Pray” has been released to help people reflect on faith, relationships, and commitment.
Prayer isn’t something separate from life; it should walk with you through the highs and lows. Pope Francis said, “Our life of prayer is not an alternative to work and commitments … it is that which accompanies every action of life.” St. John Vianney put it even more bluntly: “He who does not pray deprives himself of what is indispensable for life.”
Sometimes, prayer feels like talking into the void. Dry spells happen, and even Mother Teresa admitted to being spiritually barren. But she also said, “The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, and the fruit of service is peace.” I wondered aloud if it was still worth praying if someone as saintly as her felt like her prayers were falling on deaf ears. Fr. Garcia said she was being honest about her challenges, even as a holy person. He encouraged us to keep showing up and talking to God, even when it feels like He’s not talking back.
Serving others
Msgr. Garcia knows firsthand how pain can lead to purpose. His father died by suicide when he was young. His first thought? “Where will he go?” The weight of that question shaped his path. “Daddy, so you will go to heaven, I will pray for you daily. If I have to be a priest, I will do it.”
For 40 years, he has dedicated all his Masses to his father, proving that prayer isn’t just words; it’s commitment. Service works the same way. You don’t have to move mountains; sometimes, just showing up for others is enough. As Gandhi put it, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Muhammad Ali had a similar take: “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
Serving is more than doing good things; it’s a reflection of love. Mother Teresa once said, “Love is a one-way street. It always moves away from the self and in the direction of others. When we stop giving, we stop loving. When we stop loving, we stop growing.”
Hard times aren’t just roadblocks; they’re invitations. Pope Francis once said that instead of seeing problems as barriers to happiness, we should see them as moments to meet God. When things get tough, that’s the best time to lean in.
Think of tea. It gets its flavor when it’s steeped in hot water. In the same way, faith grows in challenges. St. Paul said it best: “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.”
Then, Fr. Garcia left us with a few more things to think about. How do you make time for prayer? What could help you do it more consistently? How do you handle tough times? Could prayer change the way you see your struggles? How do you serve others? What’s one thing you can do this week to uplift someone?
As Matthew 11:28 reminds us, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” The invitation is always open. We just have to say “yes.”
