Scripture
Psalm 42: 1 - 3
As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.When shall I come and behold the face of God?
My tears have been my food day and night,while people say to me continually, “Where is your God?”
1Thessalonians 5: 16 - 18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Reflection
Psalm 42 is the basis for one of my favourite sung Psalms, As The Deer Pants For The Water. It speaks to this idea that there is a longing within my soul for God. According to the Psalmist, this longing for God, comes in the midst of tears. How often have we found ourselves in the midst of tears in our own lives. There are times in our lives when we have faced those times in our lives when we experiencing such upheaval that we find ourselves in tears. Psalm 42 is, in essence, a prayer to God in the midst of those times of sorrow and angst. The second reading from 1Thessalonians builds on this idea of prayer, but speaks to the fact that prayer might not be something that someone does, but rather it is something that one lives.
I have been wondering about what prayer actually means. Some of you might remember this story, but I think that it bears repeating. I remember during my first class in theological college our instructor was concerned that students were not actually understanding the nuances that were being taught about our nature, the nature of being human, and God’s grace. So, to challenge us students, the instructor adapted an assignment during the last week of class. Each of the students for ministry would present a meditation, or sermon, based on scripture, and each lay student would offer a reflection of some sort, which did not have to based on a scripture passage. I was lucky enough to draw the first slot. I was tasked with writing and offering a meditation (sermon) with just less than 24 hours. In those, less than, 24 hours I was to; read the scripture in light of our course, craft a meditation that could not be less that 20 minutes long, and offer it to a classroom full of my fellow students, some of whom were already in their 5th year of classes and others, like myself, who were only starting the journey. It was a time that was full of stress and anxiety. Needless to say I made it through that class and all of my subsequent classes, but I didn't do any of this alone. After I presented my meditation (sermon) that following day in class, there was an open time for other students to ask us questions about our sermons. I had a fellow student ask me a question that was very similar to the one that is being asked of Jesus in Luke chapter 11, I was asked; "How do we pray?" Jesus response to the question is to offer the those following him a template for entering into a space of prayer with God. I believe that what this in my class was asking individual was asking was how is one supposed to pray to God. The question was not scripted, nor did I, or anyone, know what this individual was going to ask and so I will be honest I was a bit stumped how to answer. In my mind I was wondering what authority did I have to instruct anyone on what prayer is, or should be. Finally, after I took a moment to collect my thoughts, I responded with a question of my own; "What does prayer mean to you?" What ensued was a conversation around prayer and how each of us will approach the idea of prayer in a way that is unique to each one of us. Prayer is something that is personal, but again is it something that only happens at one time, or is it something that we live.
I want to share with you something that I read, “Do you pray? I loved this interpretation of prayer. What is a prayer? Prayer doesn’t just happen when we kneel or put our hands together and focus and expect things from God. Thinking positive and wishing good for others is a prayer. When you hug a friend. That’s a prayer. When you cook something to nourish family and friends. That’s a prayer. When we send off our near and dear ones and say ‘drive safely’ or ‘be safe.’ That’s a prayer. When you are helping someone in need by giving your time and energy. You are praying. When you forgive someone by your heart. That is prayer. Prayer is a vibration. A feeling. A thought. Prayer is the voice of love, friendship, genuine relationships. Prayer is an expression of your silent being. Keep praying always.” Prayer is not just something that we do at church, or when we petition God in the midst of our tears. I believe that this is what Paul was getting at in his letter to the community at Thessaloniki. Paul was speaking of praying without ceasing, in other words we are called to embody prayer as a way of life. We are called to embody the voice of God’s love, friendship. care, compassion, and relationship, in all that we do and in that way, embody prayer in all that we do.
So often we see prayer as something that happens only at specific times of our lives, yet our lives doesn’t always happen at specific times. Life happens when we least expect it, so if we work to cultivate an ongoing prayer life then we are already engaged in prayer whatever might happen in our lives. To be engaged in ongoing prayer can help us to see God in our lives, even during those times when the tears have come. I have been so blessed in my life by meeting people, who in the midst of struggle and strife, have embodied prayer even in those difficult times. These blessed people have taught me the real meaning of prayer, to live it each and every day. I invite you to join me in prayer, every day.
Prayer
God, who hears our prayers, we know that you hear us. We know that you are calling us to prayer, not just when we find ourselves in times of stress and strife but each and every day. Help us to see that when we embody the love, compassion, and care of Christ we pray. Give us the wisdom to know that prayer is more that just something we do, but should be something that we live. We ask all of this in the name of the one who came to show us the way, your son, Jesus. Amen.
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