The answer
The apostle Paul was chosen from the womb to preach. Our Lord publicly called him on the road to Damascus and he received numerous spiritual gifts. Yet, he felt in grave need for the people’s prayers so that God would support his spiritual perseverance and his missionary work. He says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:18–19).
St. John Chrysostom says, “We pray for the bishop, so that he may proclaim the word of truth in purity, for those present (with us), and for the brethren in the whole world.”1707
Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty
Notes
1707 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on 2 Cor. 2.8. See also his De incomprehensibili 3.6; De prophetarum obscuritaite, 2.5, Homilies on Ephesians 3.5; and Homilies on John, 78.4.