One of the three elements that are an essential part of the Lenten journey is prayer. Prayer is not just saying words. Prayer is the awareness of what St. Paul says in the second reading today: We know that God is for us.

The Gospel tells us that some of the Apostles had an extraordinary experience on Mount Tabor. They saw Jesus filled with light. They understood that Jesus was the completion of the Old Testament because Moses and Elijah were talking to him. They heard the mission of Jesus when God the Father said, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."

It was such a wonderful experience that Peter wanted to stay forever.

Prayer can be like that at times. We just feel God. We understand who God is. We want to stay in the prayer forever. When we have a prayer experience like that, it is a gift from God.

Jesus gave his Apostles this wonderful experience on Mount Tabor because they needed to hold onto this when they would see Jesus crucified and dead.

God gives us this wonderful prayer so that we can get through the difficult times in prayer.

The first reading tells us that Abraham heard God speak to him in prayer. This prayer was empty, filled with fear, and it made no sense. Abraham had to kill his only son as a sacrifice.

At the end God tells Abraham not to kill him. He told him to sacrifice a lamb instead.

In the end Abraham knew that God was with him.

When we have a prayer experience as Abraham, we feel empty. We wonder whether God is even there. We are so distracted. It seems that our prayer will never end.

It is at this time that we need to remember the prayer of Mount Tabor to get through the prayer of Abraham. In both prayer experiences God shows us that He is for us.

The goal of prayer is not to become more aware of ourselves. It is to become more aware of God. Prayer helps us to die to ourselves and rise with Christ. Prayer is the powerful way of living our baptismal life.