Bible Notes

Rom. 8:26-27 Praying When It Is Difficult

"How can one pray when it is difficult to pray?" Rom. 8:26-27 gives us an indication to the answer: the Holy Spirit which has been poured into our hearts enables us to pray even when we feel we cannot:

The word "Spirit" appears in the Letter to the Romans 20 times and 14 of these instances are found in Romans chapter 8. This only shows that the word "Spirit" is a key-word in this chapter. The word "Spirit" however does not have the same value in the way it is used throughout Romans.

Rom. 1:4 "spirit of sanctification"; Rom. 1:9 "my spirit" = I ; Rom. 2:29 "spirit" vs. "letter"; Rom. 7:6 "newness of spirit" vs. "oldness of letter"; Rom. 8:2 "law of the spirit of life" vs. "law of sin and death"; Rom. 8:4 "walk according to spirit" vs. "walk according to the flesh." Rom. 8:5 "flesh-mind" vs. "spirit-mind" Rom. 8:6 "wisdom of the flesh" vs. "wisdom of the spirit" Rom. 8:9 "flesh" vs. "spirit" / "Spirit of God" "Spirit of Christ" Rom. 8:10 "body" vs. "spirit" Rom. 8:11 "Spirit of Him" "His (Christ's) Spirit" Rom. 8:13 "live according to flesh" by the Spirit "mortify deeds of the flesh" Rom. 8:14 Spirit of God Rom. 8:15 spirit of bondage and fear, spirit of adoption Rom. 8:16 Spirit himself > our spirit Rom. 8:23 firstfruits of the Spirit Rom. 8:26 Spirit ... Spirit Rom. 8:27 Spirit Rom. 11:8 "spirit of insensibility" (as opposed to the "spirit of wisdom") Rom. 12:11 "in spirit" (as opposed to "in body")

In all these instances, the Holy Spirit is referred to in the following verses: Rom. 1:4; Rom. 8:9.11;8:13.14.15.16.23.26.27 .

The passage under consideration therefore refers to the Spirit which is both called "Spirit of God" and "Spirit of Christ" in 8:9 and "Spirit of Sanctification" (= "Holy Spirit") in Rom. 1:4. And the function that is underlined here is that of prayer. The Holy Spirit empowers the baptized to pray by interceding for him/her through groanings that are inexpressible.

The Catechism makes use of Romans 8:26-27 in synchrony with Hebrews in explaining the prayer of intercession:

Intercession is a prayer of petition which leads us to pray as Jesus did. He is the one intercessor with the Father on behalf of all men, especially sinners. He is "able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them "(Heb. 7:25). The Holy Spirit "himself intercedes for us ... and intercedes for the saints according to the will of God". (Rom. 8:26-27) (CCC, §2634)

Thus, when we intercede as the Church in behalf of all men and the whole community of the faithful, we extend on earth what the Lord, our High Priest, is doing before the Father, and at the same time, we mirror in our act of intercession what the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives.

Romans 8:26-27 when seen within its immediate context gives us an idea of what the Spirit is doing in our lives as the future of God inexorably makes itself present. Romans 8:18-30 develops within the contrast "present sufferings -- future glory". The inexpressible groanings of the Holy Spirit mirrors the groaning of creation and of the Christian that labours in pain under the present which is in the process of being transformed into glory.

For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us. (8:22-23, NLT)

The Holy Spirit which has been poured into our hearts, enabling us to call God "Father",(Rom. 5:5;8:15; cf. 8:29) just as Jesus did, is a companion in this present time of "groaning". In our prayers, He is there helping us with His own prayers and in so doing, helps us to pray even when we feel that we cannot (Rom. 8:26). It is thus, that in times of anguish and distress brought about by the difficulties of the present, it is the Holy Spirit that helps the Christian raise his/her heart to God and pray with faith for all that he/she needs.