5. Rhythm to Prayer

There is a certain rhythm to prayer. Prayer is an interchange, a conversation, a two-way street between you and God. The story is sometimes told of a woman praying, "Our Father, who art in heaven," being suddenly interrupted by the Almighty's voice, saying, "Yes, . . ." She immediately retorts, "Don't bother me, I'm talking to God." Does that tell us anything about our prayers? Do we really believe God is listening? Once in a while, he responds. Maybe not as an audible voice, but he has his ways of communicating with us. We forget that this is an interchange between us. This is basic to our understanding of the Scriptures and of the Eucharist. It is what all prayer is about. We speak to God. He listens to us. God speaks to us. We listen to him. In the Eucharist, we give to God and he receives from us. Then, God gives something most wonderful and we receive from him. Here is this interchange once more.