Bishop Barron (see video below) responds to a modern criticism of prayer. Critics claim prayer is overly passive or even ineffectual because it does nothing beyond offering thoughts or wishes.

Prayer is not opposed to action but actually strengthens, sustains, and gives meaning to it.

Prayer has been a central part of human spirituality across cultures and times, and we can view our current era as the first in which many people suggest that prayer is a waste of time, a notion that the Church should challenge. The waste of time would be to act on our own without prayer, and our alignment with our loving God who is with us, actively listening and responding. He’s not passive or distant. He’s someone who cares deeply about human lives and wants to bring justice, healing, and grace. Through prayer, our actions become shaped by God’s presence, turning even small works into divine instruments.

How can we know prayer is important? Because Jesus taught us that God the Father hears and responds to prayer and doesn’t always give what we want, but gives what needs to be done and the strength to live creatively within His plan. Prayer doesn’t control God but it aligns us with His providence, molding our desires to match His will.

Our action without prayer will be a disaster, since it will not include the connection to God, the supreme good, who is the source of meaning, value, power, and purpose. Simply, our actions without prayer will be deformed, since we cannot successfully accomplish anything without being informed by the highest good.