Unleashing the Power of Love

When we face a crisis such as the war in Ukraine, it doesn’t seem like there is much we can do but pray (and refrain from complaining about higher prices that may result from sanctions we place on Russia). But does prayer really make a difference?

The peace activist Eileen Egan once said, “They make fun of us, the Catholic Workers, for praying so much, but we don’t care because we already know it works.” I suspect her confidence came from an understanding of how prayer works. The power of prayer lies in its ability to change hearts. Eileen knew that prayer works because over time her faithfulness to prayer led her to become more courageous, more loving, and more peaceful.

Prayer allows us to tap into the heart of God, with its infinite compassion and mercy. It’s not that God magically grants what we ask — rather, God invites us to widen the boundaries of our hearts and thus change the world in concert with God by acting in loving ways.

Our own transformation is the true outcome of prayer and is the conduit for miracles to occur. That is why Jesus so often probed a person’s heart and forgave his or her sins (blockages) before facilitating physical healing of an ailment.

So, can prayer bring about peace in Ukraine? Given the vast global outcry against the attack on the Ukrainian people and the willingness of other countries to impose costly sanctions and accept refugees, I would say that prayer is leading a great many people to broaden the boundaries of their hearts, grow in compassion, and advocate for an end to war and subjugation. As Jimi Hendrix said, “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” And it is faithfulness to prayer that unleashes the power of love.