Pray Like This
July 23, 2006
Matthew 6: 5-13
Jesus Christ!
Help Me!
What do you think you are doing?
Who do you think you are?
Thank you God! Thank you!
I Love you God!
What shall I do?
Our Father, which are in heaven
Hail Mary full of Grace
Good God Let's Eat
Come Lord Jesus, be our guest
Sing, “I woke up this morning with my mind…Stayed on Jesus!”
All of these statements can be prayers. All of these statements represent different forms of prayers. For we in the progressive church believe we are beyond the literal text of our forebears, but instead cherish the concepts behind the words. It holds true for prayer as well. The moment prayer becomes a barrier, it is no longer a prayer. For prayer bursts through all forms and techniques because it has its basis in the Spirit of the Still Speaking God, who can not be held in some sacramental box or ritualistic formula. But, instead lives and breathes within our most authentic voices.
Private prayer is a different form than public prayer or corporate prayers like we do here in worship. Corporate prayer is important and Jesus came from a tradition of corporate prayer in the synagogue. We have many old testament examples of corporate prayer as well as new. But, there was also a tradition in which no matter where a good practicing person of faith found him/herself at 3;00 in the afternoon, they would stop what they were doing and offer private prayers in synch with the sacrifice that was happening in the Temple. It seems some people would be quite dramatic out in the street. But, it's only a metaphor. Just as going into a room alone is a metaphor. Most homes back them were quite simple and wouldn't have a lone room as is described. But, it's all trying to force us to recognize this is talking about our unmasked, authentic self. This is the kind of person coming to God in prayer. And, this week, we hear again in Matthew about hypocrites. As we read we must remember that the Greek word translated here as hypocrite is really the word for actor. And, instead of combining the concept if you break it down, it's actually much closer to our experience of prayer. “When you pray, don't be an actor, taking on a role. Instead, turn into your secret heart…be your authentic self.” For this God who calls to us desires a covenantal relationship, where we take time to talk from our truest selves. This talking and listening to God over time allows us to transform more wholly into our created and called be-ing. We're not slaves to God, we're not robots instructed and programmed, but we're in this dialogical relationship with the Loving Creator allowing us to not be changed but more fully whole.
Kathleen Norris pp. 58-59 Amazing Grace
I want to share a few stories about why and how I pray. Where it's taken me. And, why I think the struggle is worth it.
I pray everyday. I pray in the car a lot. I pray in the shower, in bed, walking around, at my desk, in the sanctuary, in meetings, pretty much, I consider prayer to be allowed everywhere. I also pray in a variety of ways, screaming, crying, whispering, in silence, with words and without, I'm really wide open to a variety of methods. And, the uncanny thing is, that as I do this type of praying, it often revolves around all of you and those in this community. And, oftentimes as I'm praying something will emerge that I remember I need to do for you. And often, if I follow up on that to do that emerged…it leads me someplace completely unexpected. It is from this seemingly insignificant practice that I've already found myself dialing one of your numbers, or doing a famous Tucson U turn. As I've said these prayers, you sometimes call me then, or I call you and you've been thinking of me or I'm arriving just in time to find out something that's happening in your lives. Some people say, this is chance. But, I can tell you, the chance sure seems to increase when I'm praying.
The longest prayer I've had running in my life is for each of you. I began praying for the congregation that I would serve 20 years ago now. And, I've continued that prayer over the last 3 years. I've imagined you. I've cried out to you. I've screamed out of impatience, why aren't you ready! It's not that much time 20 years…but it's a long prayer. It ebbs and flows like the tide, never coming and going quite the same. And, as I prayed, I began to notice it wasn't about the tide as the small grains of sand that were being changed beneath the tide…the wearing away of the rock, the smoothing of the glass and stone. It was this dialogue that was transforming the being of me. It was this calling, this stretching, the ministry of preparation for all that was to come. I believe this training, this meditation of preparation under girds our work together. I believe that no matter what lies ahead, it is true, we belong here together. I believe as we continue to evolve as a community of the Jesus movement, this prayer evolves in its calling for all of us.
A young couple was expecting their first child. From the first visit and ultrasound, the doctors were clear…this pregnancy should not happen. The fetus had severe birth defects and would not make it to term. Science reported that carrying this baby would result in the death of the child. And, trying to carry and deliver this baby could also result in the death of the mother. This young couple began to pray for a miracle. This was their first child. They were good church people. They believed in God. They believed in miracles. They believed this child would live. The couple ignored the advice of the doctors. I met them while working as a hospital chaplain. I was paged to Labor and Delivery as the labor commenced. The mother and child had made it 29 weeks and labor began. Their entire community of faith was gathered. People lined the hallways. I would guess at least 75 people were there including children of all ages. As I arrived on the unit I could feel the tension. It felt as if no one was breathing. It seemed the small toddlers playing on the floor were about to crack the air with their young voices. You could sense something was wrong. And, as the baby came into this world the Dr. was absolutely correct. Science stood firm. The child was severely deformed, misshapen, with the bluest of eyes, ten fingers and toes, breathing but dying. And, as Mom and Dad gently hugged and kissed him, they handed him to me. Will you baptize him Chaplain? And we said the words together…The family all gathered there…In the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit we baptize this child into the family of faith. Let us pray. These people prayed for a miracle. Judging by the number of peoples smashed into the birthing suite and lining the hall, many people had prayed for the child and this couple. They were expecting a miracle. They did not get a miracle. And yet, they still prayed. The moment we finished the tension had gone. I handed Joshua back to his parents. They studied him. They then allowed every person to hold him and speak to him. It was unbelievable to me. This young couple. Their first child. They prayed for a miracle. They didn't get one. Their child was alive but only for a very few limited number of moments…and they allowed all to have time with him. I would have wanted to shut the door. I would have wanted to hold him myself for every minute. But, not this couple that prayed. Not this community that prayed. That baby made it around the room. That baby breathed through baptism. That baby had moments alone with his parents. And, as that baby died in their arms; that community prayed for the couple's strength, their continued lives, their grief, their loss, their connection to death. The transformative moments in that room I will never forget. You could feel the Spirit. You could feel the change in people. You could see the impact upon every person who gathered. I pray, hoping to someday have the depth of faith of this small community of prayers. I pray to someday be so deeply transformed that I am able to allow all to be part of my journey. I pray to someday be able to let go with reckless abandon so many things I do not understand.
Prayer helps. Prayer is a center in crisis. Prayer is a battle that stretches us when we don't think we could possibly be stretched. Prayer transforms life, changes our paths, and allows us to be present beyond any reality ever experienced before. Prayer brings hope through the radiant love of God that lights our souls each time we meet. Prayer is contagious. Prayer revitalizes faith in new and different ways every time. So, if you don't pray and have never prayed; if you haven't prayed in awhile; if you pray regularly, I challenge you to take the next step; whatever that means for you. If you have never prayed, you may need to cross the threshold by saying, “God, I'm searching for You or God make me know you're here or even God help me to pray.” The words need not be long, beautiful or traditional. The words should solely express who you are and where you are. God will respond in God's own unmistakable ways. Having established contact with God, realizing that God is the source of love, other unexpected things will happen. We may suddenly find that certain aspects of life which baffle us – such as pain, sorrow, sickness, death—may take us to whole new realities.
We've been talking the last three weeks about the heart of this church season we're in, how it is we live this faith and how we become communities of faith. And, it all began in the gospel of Matthew with his reminder of Jesus' sweeping statement that our righteousness needs to exceed the scribes and the Pharisees or we won't enter the kin-dom of heaven. This prayer we call the Lord's makes it plain
Our Father who art in heaven …It's about being personal and relational with God, even intimate. And yet, it's about acknowledging that we are not God but the other.
Hallowed be thy name …It's about celebrating and praising God for the blessings that have come upon us including sacred breath.
Thy Kin-dom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven … It's about remembering the work is God's and it's not complete and we need to be signs of what is coming.
Give us this day our daily bread… It's about asking, petitioning for what we need.
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors… It's about asking for forgiveness and being forgiven in our confession of short comings or wrong doing.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil… It's about calling us into action because of our faith and our call. It's about asking to be part of God's good and unconditionally loving world, Amen! So, as the progressive left, we must say, that this prayer is a model, a form of how we might go about praying. It's a signal of all the ways in which we might go about praying, and an encouragement that no matter how your words come to God, if they come from the truth of your heart and your self, it is prayer.
Let us pray…
So how is it that you come to know God? How is it that you choose to have time with God. What kind of show are you putting on? The answers to these questions will help us to live more authentically along this journey of growing and knowing God. Be real. As the Introduction to Today's theme reminds, we can get up each morning and put on a new face. Instead let's wash our faces and do our hair, getting ready to face the world as whole, loving, joyful people of peace. Let us pray.