3-2-2014

 Good Morning to All,

     Luke 18:13; “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

     When I first started to take classes at the seminary there was a standard joke told by all the professors the first time they talked to us.  Apparently it was in the “joke of the day” file of the morning announcements because each one told it.  We laughed harder when the president of the seminary or one of the deans of faculty told the joke than we did when one of the associate professors told it.  The joke was this.  “Now that you are going to become ministers you expect to be invited out to dinner more often.  People will invite you and feed you just so they don’t have to say a table prayer.”

    It was funny the first time but not so funny the fifth time.  Yet there is a certain amount of truth in this statement; many people will almost anything to get out of praying, especially in public.  So why are we so intimidated by praying?  For many, it is the “public” part that really throws us but almost as many have trouble praying.  I remember talking with a woman who struggled with prayer.  “I just don’t know all the right words.”  This is a common theme for many.  We don’t know all the “church words” and how to use them.

    The first thing to remember is that prayers which are part of the liturgy of the church have been written and honed throughout the centuries.  These are specially written for certain times and events.  Yet this should not deter our personal prayer.  The thing to remember is that prayers are not meant to impress your neighbor or even God but rather they are to speak from the heart.  Our verse is from the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying.  The Pharisee speaks loudly and boldly about how good he is.  This is for the benefit of those who are listening.

   Yet the tax collector never lifts his eyes to heaven and asks for mercy.  Notice his prayer is only seven words long.  Our prayers don’t need to be any longer than that.  “Father, forgive me for I am a sinner.” “Father, I am frightened; please comfort me.”  Father, I am in pain; please heal me.”  “Father, I am in sorrow and sadness; please console me.” “Father, thank you for this blessing.”  None of these are long or “churchy” but they express our needs and fears.  They express our joys and happiness.  This is what prayer is; it is telling God what it is in your life, right now, that causes you to lose sleep or cause you to cry or cause you to shudder.  Tell God, as simply as possible.  That is true prayer.

Father, too often we do not know the words to say.  We think we are inadequate and that we lack the skill to pray.  Father give us the courage to see that you desire our prayers and that through them you bless us.  Guide us by your Spirit to boldly come before your heavenly throne and seek your grace and that we can be confident of your mercy.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret