Today we hear Jesus’ disciples ask him to teach them how to pray. It seems people all through the ages want to know the “correct” way to pray. It seems that in spending time with God, we want to make sure to get it right.
I know I’ve told this story before, but I was at a clergy conference in Maryland several years ago and one of our guests was a monk from an area monastery. He told the story about an older monk who, when asked what was the right type or form of prayer, said, “The one that you pray.”
That can be us. It certainly seemed to be the disciples. “Teach us to pray , as John taught his disciples.” We want to get it right. So Jesus gives them the Lord’s Prayer.
It has been said that this is probably the most perfect prayer ever devised. It has changed somewhat over time, but, overall, it has remained as it has in scripture. Why is it as good as it is?
First of all, it’s short. The way we recite it, it only has 14 lines. It has four sentences; five if you count the concluding doxology (which was added later). Only two words have three syllables. Outside of the doxology, ten words have two syllables. And it is direct and to the point.
It recognizes God as Father/Creator of all. It recognizes that God reigns over all and God’s name is holy. It prays for the kingdom of heaven to be manifested here on earth. It asks for daily nourishment. It acknowledges our sinful nature, begs forgiveness, and reminds us that we also must forgive others. And it asks for God’s protection.
The prayer is all about recognition, sustenance, amendment of life, and protection.
From there Jesus speaks more in depth about prayer.
Prayer is about persistence. If we pray continually, we will be changed. We will move from, “O Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz,” to, “Thy will be done.” In our persistence we will come to know what we are really doing and be open to what God gives.
And here’s where it gets hard. I think it gets hard because it’s about here that we quit listening. In your persistence, you will be given whatever you need. Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened. If you who are evil know how to give good gifts, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?
It gets hard because we hear, “Ask and it will be given . . . how much more will the heavenly Father give . . .”
But how many of us have prayed for something we WANT? Jesus doesn’t say if we pray we’ll get what we want; he says that if we pray we’ll get what we need. And what the heavenly Father gives is the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer is not dropping a couple of quarters in the heavenly vending machine, pushing C-4, and being granted your current wish. Prayer is conversation. Prayer is relationship building. Prayer is letting God know where you are and listening for where God might be asking you to be.
I’m reminded of the scene in “Lilies of the Field” where Sidney Poitier’s character was talking with the priest. The priest says something like, “I used to pray that God would send me to serve in some magnificent cathedral with beautiful stained glass windows and a large congregation.”
However, he finds himself in the remote, high desert of the Southwest with small groups of people spread far and wide and he is bitter and jaded. But by the end of the film, he realizes that God’s creation is magnificent, the sunsets are more beautiful than any stained glass window, and it’s not the size of the congregation but the amount of faith within the congregation.
What is it we’re praying for? Are we praying for our own version of a Mercedes Benz, or are we praying for the presence of God’s Holy Spirit and that holy kingdom? Because prayer isn’t about what we want, it’s about how we can reflect the presence of God.
And the only way we’ll ever know what that is, is to spend time with God listening more than we speak.
Amen.
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