THURSDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, JUNE 18, 2026
- Olivia M. Bannan
- Jun 18
- 3 min read
Gospel
Prayer for me can be very difficult. At times too much effort is needed to pray. There are so many prayers to be said and at times I am unable to concentrate, or even remember what I prayed.
I am reminded of this statement, "Your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you." It makes me think that I pray so that I can get something or a reward.
There is nothing wrong in seeking the rewards that come from a life of holiness. In our prayer we receive God's divine graces and these graces help us have a relationship with our Father. In today's Gospel we hear Jesus teach the disciples and us how to pray. He warns us not to "babble like the pagans" who think they will be heard because of the many words they use. Instead, Jesus gives us the Our Father, a simple and profound prayer that flows from a trusting relationship with God. Prayer is not about convincing God to listen; it is about opening our hearts to the Father who already knows our needs. We start by calling God "our Father".
St Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church, beautifully describes prayer using the image of water and the benefits of prayer. In her spiritual writings and autobiography, she compares the soul to a garden that must be watered so that flowers and fruits may grow. Water represents God's grace, while prayer is the means by which the soul , which is the soil, receives that life-giving water. (1)
St Teresa describes several ways of watering the garden. At first, drawing water from a well requires much effort, like manual labor, like beginners in prayer who struggle with distractions and perseverance. The soul is the soil, virtues are the plants and God’s grace is the life-giving water that nourishes them. Teresa’s metaphor unfolds across four stages, each representing a deepening relationship with God and an increasing surrender of the soul to divine love. (1)
The First Water is drawn by manual labor, when one must exert effort to draw water from a well. This is the prayer of beginners and depends largely on human effort. It consists of active (discursive) meditation, intellectual effort and discipline, often accompanied by dryness and distraction. (1)
The Second Water comes from a water wheel, where God begins to aid the soul’s effort. Here, prayer becomes more affective and spontaneous; the will moves easily toward God, and the intellect gives way to love. God grants the soul a greater ease in recollection, leading to the Prayer of Quiet, where the will rests peacefully in God with less struggle. (1)
The Third Water flows like a flowing stream or river that soaks the garden. This is the Prayer of Union, a passive, mystical gift where the soul becomes more passive as its faculties are captivated by God. (1)
The Fourth Water is a gentle rain that God pours directly upon the garden; it symbolizes the Prayer of Transforming Union, where the soul’s will and God’s will are one. There is no labor here, only surrender and love. (1)
We can use St Teresa’s image of the Four Waters as a guide for a prayerful self-examination, asking the Holy Spirit to illuminate the state of our own garden. (1)
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