Today's readings bring out a few things about praying. In the Gospel we see the effect of intercessory prayer. The Roman soldier heard about Jesus and His power to heal and so he asked the Jewish elders to intercede with Jesus for the cure of his servant. Jesus, on His part, promptly set out to respond to the intercession and answer the plea of the centurion. Throughout His mission, Jesus showed that He was ready to answer the petitions made on behalf of others as He did at the wedding in Cana (Jn. 2:1-10). In Bethany He said, "I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven." (Mt. 18:19). In his letter to Timothy, who was appointed as an elder of the new Christian community, St Paul confirmed the need to pray together and for one another.

Another truth about praying is that God is pleased to answer when prayer is made in humility. Jesus commended the humble attitude of the centurion and rewarded it with the instant cure of his servant. Praying in faith is praying like the Roman soldier; it is acknowledging that everything is possible with God and that when He answers our prayer it is not because He is obliged to but because He is pleased to see us happy.