This last week before Christmas, I have been appreciating intermingling the day's O antiphon with the Lord's Prayer.
For today:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
come and enlighten those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death.
Hallowed be Thy name.
Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness.
Thy kingdom come.
Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death.
Thy will be done.
Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness.
And forgive us our trespasses.
Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness.
And lead us not into temptation.
Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness.
and in the shadow of death.
But deliver us from the evil one.
Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.
Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death.
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Monday, December 21, 2015
Friday, March 13, 2015
If You Measure It ...
"If you measure something, it will get better."
That is the premise behind a new program "offered" by our health insurance. (And by "offered," I mean that we get to pay $1000 more on our health insurance premiums next year if we don't participate. No. Wait. I take that back. We don't pay more if we aren't following this new program. We pay less if we are following the program. What? You don't see a difference? Neither do I. But I'm guessing there's a legal technicality that matters in how it's phrased.)
Anyway, we are supposed to rack up points. Enough points earns you the bonus money. We get points for reading their daily health tips. We get points each day for self-reporting on three health-habits. They provided us fancy high-tech pedometers, and we earn points for every 1000 steps it measures. Extra points if you have your blood-pressure tested at work at least once a month. And much more.
#1. Do we suspect that the requirements will increase quarterly or yearly? Yes, we do.
#2. There's some comfort in hearing that loads of other folks are bothered by the tracking of personal health data and are feeling that their privacy is infringed. And yet, everybody feels that the huge cost difference means we must comply.
#3. Do we think this sort of thing will become commonplace with nationalized health care? Yes, we do. Do we suspect that mere tracking of information will eventually morph into helpful suggestions of ways to improve our health? And then instructions? And then demands?
#4. The computer glitches. OH, the computer glitches! Points not being counted here. Habits not being registered there. Besides the regular computer glitches, daylight savings time threw another humongous monkey wrench into it all. This does not instill confidence in the system.
#5. And finally, the so-called axiom on which the entire program is built: "If you measure something, it will get better." Sorry. I don't buy that.
For one thing, we've seen how that works with standardized testing in school. We test more and more and more. And education has not improved.
The whole point of improvement-through-measuring is that we will be embarrassed to have "bad numbers" and will then work harder to prove that we exercised or skipped dessert or lost weight. But what the ceaseless measuring does is cause us to always be looking at ourselves and evaluating ourselves.
This is navel-gazing.
It's also stressful.
Neither of these contributes to health.
Furthermore, I noticed the effect of "if you measure it" when I first chose my health habits to track. I thought I would choose meditation as one of my options. It would be easy to [ahem] score well, seeing as how I already have established a habit (albeit a habit that is not as consistent as I'd like). But you know what? It really REALLY messed with my mind and my soul and my prayers. Just being aware that I'd have to report the number of minutes each day? [Shudder!!] It was so creepy that I quit after a day and a half, and chose myself a different health habit.
Measuring made it worse. A lot worse. Not better.
Andrew found the same thing when he had to log his food for nutrition class. Logging it changed what he ate. For the worse, not the better.
When Maggie first joined Curves, she was initially interested in weighing herself daily. Not a good plan. That's how people become overly caught up in the numbers instead of actual health and fitness. Occasional measurements are fine. But measuring too often is counterproductive.
In our society, nigh onto everybody was raised in a school system that tracked and measured every little thing. Look how people LOVE to take those little tests on Facebook that measure personality type, or which famous actress you're like, or how many of these trivia facts do you know, or which state would best suit you.
I think we've developed a mentality that takes for granted "Measuring Makes It Better." And now we're stuck with it.
That is the premise behind a new program "offered" by our health insurance. (And by "offered," I mean that we get to pay $1000 more on our health insurance premiums next year if we don't participate. No. Wait. I take that back. We don't pay more if we aren't following this new program. We pay less if we are following the program. What? You don't see a difference? Neither do I. But I'm guessing there's a legal technicality that matters in how it's phrased.)
Anyway, we are supposed to rack up points. Enough points earns you the bonus money. We get points for reading their daily health tips. We get points each day for self-reporting on three health-habits. They provided us fancy high-tech pedometers, and we earn points for every 1000 steps it measures. Extra points if you have your blood-pressure tested at work at least once a month. And much more.
#1. Do we suspect that the requirements will increase quarterly or yearly? Yes, we do.
#2. There's some comfort in hearing that loads of other folks are bothered by the tracking of personal health data and are feeling that their privacy is infringed. And yet, everybody feels that the huge cost difference means we must comply.
#3. Do we think this sort of thing will become commonplace with nationalized health care? Yes, we do. Do we suspect that mere tracking of information will eventually morph into helpful suggestions of ways to improve our health? And then instructions? And then demands?
#4. The computer glitches. OH, the computer glitches! Points not being counted here. Habits not being registered there. Besides the regular computer glitches, daylight savings time threw another humongous monkey wrench into it all. This does not instill confidence in the system.
#5. And finally, the so-called axiom on which the entire program is built: "If you measure something, it will get better." Sorry. I don't buy that.
For one thing, we've seen how that works with standardized testing in school. We test more and more and more. And education has not improved.
The whole point of improvement-through-measuring is that we will be embarrassed to have "bad numbers" and will then work harder to prove that we exercised or skipped dessert or lost weight. But what the ceaseless measuring does is cause us to always be looking at ourselves and evaluating ourselves.
This is navel-gazing.
It's also stressful.
Neither of these contributes to health.
Furthermore, I noticed the effect of "if you measure it" when I first chose my health habits to track. I thought I would choose meditation as one of my options. It would be easy to [ahem] score well, seeing as how I already have established a habit (albeit a habit that is not as consistent as I'd like). But you know what? It really REALLY messed with my mind and my soul and my prayers. Just being aware that I'd have to report the number of minutes each day? [Shudder!!] It was so creepy that I quit after a day and a half, and chose myself a different health habit.
Measuring made it worse. A lot worse. Not better.
Andrew found the same thing when he had to log his food for nutrition class. Logging it changed what he ate. For the worse, not the better.
When Maggie first joined Curves, she was initially interested in weighing herself daily. Not a good plan. That's how people become overly caught up in the numbers instead of actual health and fitness. Occasional measurements are fine. But measuring too often is counterproductive.
In our society, nigh onto everybody was raised in a school system that tracked and measured every little thing. Look how people LOVE to take those little tests on Facebook that measure personality type, or which famous actress you're like, or how many of these trivia facts do you know, or which state would best suit you.
I think we've developed a mentality that takes for granted "Measuring Makes It Better." And now we're stuck with it.
Friday, November 14, 2014
People Praying for Me
I phoned the Issues Etc Comment Line today. Jeff asked my name and my comment. Just before he put me on hold, he asked where I was calling from. I told him and then kneaded bread while waiting for my turn on-air. About a minute before Jeff was ready to put me through, he popped onto the phone to tell me that the break was nearly over and they were about ready to take my call. And then ...
then he asked me how I was doing and how my health was.
And he told me they'd been praying for me.
I was floored.
Me?
Why should he even know me?
I lightly (and quickly) mentioned that I was much improved. I said I am walking, talking, and DRIVING again.
Wow.
People that I've met only a few times, only briefly, and yet they care and they pray on my behalf.
"The communion of saints." Sometimes you get a glimpse that you don't normally see, and it blows you away.
then he asked me how I was doing and how my health was.
And he told me they'd been praying for me.
I was floored.
Me?
Why should he even know me?
I lightly (and quickly) mentioned that I was much improved. I said I am walking, talking, and DRIVING again.
Wow.
People that I've met only a few times, only briefly, and yet they care and they pray on my behalf.
"The communion of saints." Sometimes you get a glimpse that you don't normally see, and it blows you away.
Thursday, August 07, 2014
Concord and Peace
"Give to all nations concord and peace" (from the Litany).
Christians over in Babylon (aka, Iraq) could obtain "peace" by submitting to the demands of ISIS. They could have "peace" by renouncing Jesus and converting to the [ahem] peaceful religion of Islam ... whose adherents are currently robbing, torturing, and murdering those who won't convert or flee. (This NBC story has no gory pictures obvious on the site, and doesn't contain all the stomach-turning details of many other news reports. Fair warning: I didn't check the videos, to know what awful things might be contained there.)
Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled. Neither let it be afraid."
Nope. His peace isn't the kind of peace we usually want. Peace and calm. No conflict. No pain. No suffering. That's the peace we long for: "Can't we all just get along?"
Thank God when we are permitted that kind of peace. But Jesus' peace can be way different: "not as the world gives."
And then we pray the Litany. "Give to all nations concord and peace." Lord, we'd sure like the happy and comfortable kind of peace where everybody is polite and helpful and non-confrontational. But if that's not Your will in every time and every place, we beg You to give to all nations the peace that Jesus provides in the forgiveness of sins and oneness with Him.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
What's That Word Mean, Anyhow?
When Jesus died, He "yielded up" His Spirit (Matt 27).
In the Lord's Prayer (Matt 6), we pray, "forgive us" our trespasses as we "forgive" those who trespass against us.
"Forgive" and "yielded up" are the same word in Greek -- send forth, discharge, let go, cancel, forgive, tolerate.
For being the same word in Greek, those sure sound very different in our English translations. But I guess Jesus' death and letting go of the Holy Spirit is why forgiveness is preached and spread and spoken to sinners throughout the world.
In the Lord's Prayer (Matt 6), we pray, "forgive us" our trespasses as we "forgive" those who trespass against us.
"Forgive" and "yielded up" are the same word in Greek -- send forth, discharge, let go, cancel, forgive, tolerate.
For being the same word in Greek, those sure sound very different in our English translations. But I guess Jesus' death and letting go of the Holy Spirit is why forgiveness is preached and spread and spoken to sinners throughout the world.
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Two Tables
Quick review, in case you don't remember what you learned in confirmation class: The first three commandments are the First Table of the Law ("you shall love the Lord your God ...") and the rest are the Second Table of the Law ("... and your neighbor as yourself").
You know what?
The Lord's Prayer is kind of like that too. A "first table" and a "second table."
We pray that God's name is hallowed,
that His kingdom come, and
that His will be done.
That is about doctrine. And who God is. And what He does for us.
The rest of the prayer is more about what happens to us here on earth, that He would provide for our temporal needs, and that we be forgiven and rescued from our sinfulness, and that this world and our sinful nature not overwhelm us and destroy faith.
You know what?
The Lord's Prayer is kind of like that too. A "first table" and a "second table."
We pray that God's name is hallowed,
that His kingdom come, and
that His will be done.
That is about doctrine. And who God is. And what He does for us.
The rest of the prayer is more about what happens to us here on earth, that He would provide for our temporal needs, and that we be forgiven and rescued from our sinfulness, and that this world and our sinful nature not overwhelm us and destroy faith.
Monday, September 09, 2013
Prayer Chains
Elijah heckled the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 19): Your gods are asleep. Or on vacation. They can't heeeeear you. Better speak up.
That's how we often treat prayer chains. God doesn't know what's going on, so we need to tell Him. Or God doesn't care very much, so we will arm-twist Him into doing what we demand. Doesn't "storm the gates of heaven" sound a little like the storming of the Bastille -- crowds overpowering an enemy?
When we join in prayer (at the altar or via prayer chains), the point is not to make God do what we want. In times of national disaster, or at times of cancer diagnoses, or when there's been a nasty accident, we pray for the sake of faith. We pray that none of us would be scandalized in the Faith because of the circumstances of our own lives: "If this is happening to me, surely God has abandoned me." We pray likewise that none of us is scandalized by the tragedies of our brothers and sisters: "What kind of a God allows this to happen?"
We pray that we trust the Lord.
We pray that suffering does not turn us from Him.
We pray that He uses events (good or bad) to draw us closer to Him.
Oh, yeah -- and we also pray that temporal suffering be alleviated if it be His will.
That's how we often treat prayer chains. God doesn't know what's going on, so we need to tell Him. Or God doesn't care very much, so we will arm-twist Him into doing what we demand. Doesn't "storm the gates of heaven" sound a little like the storming of the Bastille -- crowds overpowering an enemy?
When we join in prayer (at the altar or via prayer chains), the point is not to make God do what we want. In times of national disaster, or at times of cancer diagnoses, or when there's been a nasty accident, we pray for the sake of faith. We pray that none of us would be scandalized in the Faith because of the circumstances of our own lives: "If this is happening to me, surely God has abandoned me." We pray likewise that none of us is scandalized by the tragedies of our brothers and sisters: "What kind of a God allows this to happen?"
We pray that we trust the Lord.
We pray that suffering does not turn us from Him.
We pray that He uses events (good or bad) to draw us closer to Him.
Oh, yeah -- and we also pray that temporal suffering be alleviated if it be His will.
Friday, August 02, 2013
Keep on Praying
A slight twist on Dory's song:
Just keep praying.
Just keep praying.
Just keep praying praying praying.
What do we do? We pray pray pray.
Pastor likes to make the point that the story of "The Friend at Midnight" (Luke 11) is NOT comparing God to the neighbor who doesn't want to hand over the bread. It's contrasting God with that fellow. The neighbor didn't love the demanding guy who was banging on his door, but God DOES love us. How much easier it is to ask (and ask and ask) somebody who loves us and cares about us and has made promises to us!!
But [she wondered] if I really believed that God would give what I need, then why should I keep pestering him about it? After all, I could pray once, and then just trust Him to do what is good and right, and not keep asking (and asking and asking). So is my persistent prayer due to my lack of faith???
Pastor said no.
He said a mother would know what it is like to have children talk to them. Don't parents delight when their children talk? Isn't that what parents want? Isn't it great to know that they trust you and enjoy talking to you? Don't we love to hear their stories and their discoveries and their thoughts and their feelings?
Yeah. We do.
(Now, hang on just a minute. I know some of y'all are at the stage with kiddoes that you're thinking, "Uh ... uh ... well, uh ... sometimes I'm not so sure I delight in that. Sometimes I kinda sorta want to lock myself in the bathroom to hide from it...." Okay, let me put it this way: If one of your kids stopped talking to you someday, your heart would break. And you would miss him. And you'd have no way to pour out your love to him. And you'd rejoice when there is some small chance to talk again. So yeah, you young moms, tired though you may be, hiding in the bathroom though you may be, you do TOO love hearing your kids talk. It may not always be apparent to you, but deep-down you treasure it. Trust me on this.)
So, yeah. I guess I can "just keep praying praying praying." And it's okay. It's not annoying God.
Quite the contrary.
Just keep praying.
Just keep praying.
Just keep praying praying praying.
What do we do? We pray pray pray.
(I hope Nemo doesn't mind the tweaking.)
Pastor likes to make the point that the story of "The Friend at Midnight" (Luke 11) is NOT comparing God to the neighbor who doesn't want to hand over the bread. It's contrasting God with that fellow. The neighbor didn't love the demanding guy who was banging on his door, but God DOES love us. How much easier it is to ask (and ask and ask) somebody who loves us and cares about us and has made promises to us!!
But [she wondered] if I really believed that God would give what I need, then why should I keep pestering him about it? After all, I could pray once, and then just trust Him to do what is good and right, and not keep asking (and asking and asking). So is my persistent prayer due to my lack of faith???
Pastor said no.
He said a mother would know what it is like to have children talk to them. Don't parents delight when their children talk? Isn't that what parents want? Isn't it great to know that they trust you and enjoy talking to you? Don't we love to hear their stories and their discoveries and their thoughts and their feelings?
Yeah. We do.
(Now, hang on just a minute. I know some of y'all are at the stage with kiddoes that you're thinking, "Uh ... uh ... well, uh ... sometimes I'm not so sure I delight in that. Sometimes I kinda sorta want to lock myself in the bathroom to hide from it...." Okay, let me put it this way: If one of your kids stopped talking to you someday, your heart would break. And you would miss him. And you'd have no way to pour out your love to him. And you'd rejoice when there is some small chance to talk again. So yeah, you young moms, tired though you may be, hiding in the bathroom though you may be, you do TOO love hearing your kids talk. It may not always be apparent to you, but deep-down you treasure it. Trust me on this.)
So, yeah. I guess I can "just keep praying praying praying." And it's okay. It's not annoying God.
Quite the contrary.
Thursday, July 04, 2013
Skits in Church
So I don't like skits during church. But is that just my preference, whereas somebody else has a different preference?
I figured it out. It's not just me and my old-fashioned hang-ups.
Skits are pretending.
They're not real. People are acting. Actors pretend to be who they're not. They say lines written for them instead of engaging in real-life, from-the-heart conversation.
What happens during church must be REAL. It must be true and honest and live dialogue between God and man.
No show.
No pretend.
Genuine speech. Speech that accomplishes a transaction.
I figured it out. It's not just me and my old-fashioned hang-ups.
They're not real. People are acting. Actors pretend to be who they're not. They say lines written for them instead of engaging in real-life, from-the-heart conversation.
What happens during church must be REAL. It must be true and honest and live dialogue between God and man.
No show.
No pretend.
Genuine speech. Speech that accomplishes a transaction.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
DAILY Bread? Not Monthly? Or Yearly Bread?
Any person who does not know what insecurity is
does not know what faith is.
Wingren, Luther on Vocation, page 36
referring to Luther WA 6, 8
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Praying FOR People
I can wash the dishes "for you" because it will benefit you to have clean dishes. Or I can wash the dishes "for you" because it's your job but I can do it instead of you.
Usually we think of praying "for somebody" something we do on their behalf, something that will benefit them.
But maybe sometimes we also pray "for somebody" by speaking to God prayers as if we were the other guy praying for himself. Praying "in his stead," as it were. Putting ourselves in the other guy's shoes and then begging God for what's good for that neighbor.
This may not be the way we usually think of "praying for him." But maybe it's one of the ways we learn (experientially) about the words "substitutionary" and "vicarious" and "priestly."
Usually we think of praying "for somebody" something we do on their behalf, something that will benefit them.
But maybe sometimes we also pray "for somebody" by speaking to God prayers as if we were the other guy praying for himself. Praying "in his stead," as it were. Putting ourselves in the other guy's shoes and then begging God for what's good for that neighbor.
This may not be the way we usually think of "praying for him." But maybe it's one of the ways we learn (experientially) about the words "substitutionary" and "vicarious" and "priestly."
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
What Are These Prayers About, Anyway?
We pray that evil be thwarted; we pray for an end to abortion and other murders; we pray that people are safe; we pray that people do not betray others.
Why?
A big part of it is for the sake of life. Those babies should live and not die. The victims of violent crime should have been safe. Those who are betrayed should have continued to enjoy fellowship with the loved one.
But that's not all.
We pray also for the sake of the one who's inflicting the harm. Remember in Harry Potter, how it "ripped the soul" to make a horcrux? Remember how horrifying it was when it became apparent that Tom Riddle had made more than one? Oh, what it would do to his soul! Think about it -- it would "rip the soul" to murder or betray. When we pray against abortion, it's not just for the sake of the babies; it's also for the sake of the abortionist and that he not destroy himself through his violent job. When we pray for peace in the world and for safety in our communities, it's not just for the sake of the law-abiding citizens; it's also so that the criminals not continue to warp themselves through their lovelessness and destruction.
"But deliver us from evil."
Why?
A big part of it is for the sake of life. Those babies should live and not die. The victims of violent crime should have been safe. Those who are betrayed should have continued to enjoy fellowship with the loved one.
But that's not all.
We pray also for the sake of the one who's inflicting the harm. Remember in Harry Potter, how it "ripped the soul" to make a horcrux? Remember how horrifying it was when it became apparent that Tom Riddle had made more than one? Oh, what it would do to his soul! Think about it -- it would "rip the soul" to murder or betray. When we pray against abortion, it's not just for the sake of the babies; it's also for the sake of the abortionist and that he not destroy himself through his violent job. When we pray for peace in the world and for safety in our communities, it's not just for the sake of the law-abiding citizens; it's also so that the criminals not continue to warp themselves through their lovelessness and destruction.
"But deliver us from evil."
Sunday, November 04, 2012
The Aftermath of the Election
I just realized today that I haven't been praying too much about the outcome of the election. Over the last couple of weeks, I've been praying more for how the people respond to the election results.
Four years ago I remember people talked about how great it is that, in America, unlike some other nations, there was a peaceful transfer of power. [Assuming the incumbent is not re-elected] will we be saying the same thing next year about this transfer of power?
Today in the prayer of the Church, we asked for "faithful citizens." That's about Tuesday. But it's also about the days and weeks following Tuesday. Lord, have mercy.
Four years ago I remember people talked about how great it is that, in America, unlike some other nations, there was a peaceful transfer of power. [Assuming the incumbent is not re-elected] will we be saying the same thing next year about this transfer of power?
Today in the prayer of the Church, we asked for "faithful citizens." That's about Tuesday. But it's also about the days and weeks following Tuesday. Lord, have mercy.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Why It's Hard to Pray
from John Kleinig (not a quote but the gist of what he said) --
You find it hard to pray? You intend to have family devotions every evening? You intend to do a better job this time of sticking to your private prayers each day? But you keep failing!
That's exactly what the devil wants! Your failure to pray doesn't mean you're a failure at it and therefore should give up. Your failure to pray is, instead, proof that the devil is out to stop you at all costs. Your failures are, oddly, evidence of how important your prayers are!
And maybe if you know how important it is to Satan that you don't pray, maybe it will be easier to persevere in your prayers, going to your Father who invites you, who offers you help, who promises to hear.
You find it hard to pray? You intend to have family devotions every evening? You intend to do a better job this time of sticking to your private prayers each day? But you keep failing!
That's exactly what the devil wants! Your failure to pray doesn't mean you're a failure at it and therefore should give up. Your failure to pray is, instead, proof that the devil is out to stop you at all costs. Your failures are, oddly, evidence of how important your prayers are!
And maybe if you know how important it is to Satan that you don't pray, maybe it will be easier to persevere in your prayers, going to your Father who invites you, who offers you help, who promises to hear.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Devotions
"O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise."
Is that really so difficult to say?
I recently attended a gathering. The devotions had no invocation, no versicles, no creed, no hymn, no psalms, no canticles. The devotions started with a religious reading, followed by a prayer. You'd think we could have at least prayed the Lord's Prayer. (Jesus did say, after all, "When you pray, say 'Our Father....'")
We've been reading John Kleinig's book Grace Upon Grace for Bible class this fall. In it, he talks about how God's people are made holy by things like the invocation, creed, Our Father, and the benediction. As I read that section of the book, I reflected on how impotent we think those words are. They seem silly to most of us. They seem little. They seem like the same-old-same-old.
And then you throw together more than a hundred Christians, and we pray, and I feel cheated (yes, cheated!) that we can't even say "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." We can't have someone read a psalm to which we can respond with the Gloria Patri. We can't confess the Faith together -- "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth...."
Really, dear pastors. God gave you the words to say. You can find them in the book. He ordered you to speak them for my comfort, for my strengthening, for my life. Would you please just say them?!
Is that really so difficult to say?
I recently attended a gathering. The devotions had no invocation, no versicles, no creed, no hymn, no psalms, no canticles. The devotions started with a religious reading, followed by a prayer. You'd think we could have at least prayed the Lord's Prayer. (Jesus did say, after all, "When you pray, say 'Our Father....'")
We've been reading John Kleinig's book Grace Upon Grace for Bible class this fall. In it, he talks about how God's people are made holy by things like the invocation, creed, Our Father, and the benediction. As I read that section of the book, I reflected on how impotent we think those words are. They seem silly to most of us. They seem little. They seem like the same-old-same-old.
And then you throw together more than a hundred Christians, and we pray, and I feel cheated (yes, cheated!) that we can't even say "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." We can't have someone read a psalm to which we can respond with the Gloria Patri. We can't confess the Faith together -- "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth...."
Really, dear pastors. God gave you the words to say. You can find them in the book. He ordered you to speak them for my comfort, for my strengthening, for my life. Would you please just say them?!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Prayer: Asking God to Be What He Is
With the way we see prayer, it seems kinda goofy for us to pray that God be what He already is. We usually think of prayer as giving God information, asking for help, requesting stuff. But look at what David prays in Psalm 31:
Be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress.Do you suppose maybe there really is something to that thing about prayer being when we speak back to God the truths that He has already given us?
Friday, May 04, 2012
Penance and Prayer
"So why would a priest give out the Lord's Prayer for punishment?"
-- Asked by Maggie today as we were reading chapter 37 in Ivanhoe, where the head of all the Templar knights was assigning penance to the guy in charge of the local group of Templars. The penance was 13 Our Fathers at Matins and 9 at Vespers, plus six weeks fasting from meat.
Assigning prayer as punishment. Excellent point.
Is praying really that distasteful, that you only do it when you're trying to ingratiate yourself with God?
-- Asked by Maggie today as we were reading chapter 37 in Ivanhoe, where the head of all the Templar knights was assigning penance to the guy in charge of the local group of Templars. The penance was 13 Our Fathers at Matins and 9 at Vespers, plus six weeks fasting from meat.
Assigning prayer as punishment. Excellent point.
Is praying really that distasteful, that you only do it when you're trying to ingratiate yourself with God?
Friday, April 06, 2012
The Candles at Vigil
Vigil. The wee hours of the morning. Alone in a quiet church. Praying. Candles in the torch stands around the pews, flickering. Every now and then, the peripheral vision catches movement. Is someone here? How did I not hear the door open? Oh, no, it's just the movement of those tiny, lively flames.
But it reminds me. This holy night, in this holy place, angels and saints, apostles and prophets and martyrs, pray and praise. This holy night, in other holy places (where it is already daylight), the Church throughout the whole world prays and sings of her dear Lord's passion.
Not alone here after all.
But it reminds me. This holy night, in this holy place, angels and saints, apostles and prophets and martyrs, pray and praise. This holy night, in other holy places (where it is already daylight), the Church throughout the whole world prays and sings of her dear Lord's passion.
Not alone here after all.
Friday, March 02, 2012
Prayer, and the Fall of Jerusalem
Pastor's always telling us that God never tells us to pray for something unless He promises to give it. It sounds reasonable. God promises to forgive our sins, and thus we pray, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." He promises to provide for our temporal needs, and so He bids us pray, "Give us this day our daily bread."
But sometimes I still wonder. Really? If God tells us to pray for something, does that really mean He's promising it too? Always? Or is this valid only for the Our Father?
So, anyway, we're reading along in Matthew about the warnings of the approaching fall of Jerusalem and how it's connected to the end times. In that section where Jesus is telling His followers about escaping the destruction, there's a verse (24:20) where He says, "Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath." Hey! How does this fit with the rubric that God's invitation to pray for something is also a promise to provide it for us? After all, escaping Jerusalem was merely a temporal situation. Surely it wasn't a promise too?
Guess what? You look up the history of the Fall of Jerusalem, and you find that the Roman siege of the city began at Passover and ended in late summer.
I shouldn't find that freakily delightful. But I do.
But sometimes I still wonder. Really? If God tells us to pray for something, does that really mean He's promising it too? Always? Or is this valid only for the Our Father?
So, anyway, we're reading along in Matthew about the warnings of the approaching fall of Jerusalem and how it's connected to the end times. In that section where Jesus is telling His followers about escaping the destruction, there's a verse (24:20) where He says, "Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath." Hey! How does this fit with the rubric that God's invitation to pray for something is also a promise to provide it for us? After all, escaping Jerusalem was merely a temporal situation. Surely it wasn't a promise too?
Guess what? You look up the history of the Fall of Jerusalem, and you find that the Roman siege of the city began at Passover and ended in late summer.
I shouldn't find that freakily delightful. But I do.
I should be certain
that these petitions are pleasing
to our Father in heaven,
and are heard by Him,
for He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way
and has promised to hear us.
"Amen, amen" means "yes, yes, it shall be so."
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Prayer
In prayer, we don't give God information He doesn't already know. In prayer, we're not trying to get God to change His mind and do things our way because, well, we honestly think He's botching it up and needs to amend His plans to suit us.
In prayer, we want to align our will with His. We know that "What God Ordains Is Always Good," but we need to come to believe that. In prayer, we meditate on the catechism and the psalms and His promises, and speak back to God what He has first spoken to us.
I'm trying to figure out how prayer chains work into that. If someone I know is worried about an ill relative, I will pray for faith for my friend and that God would preserve the ill person in the Faith. I will also pray for temporal healing if it is God's will. But the main thing is always that God's will to draw people to Himself is accomplished.
So is that what prayer requests and prayer chains are concerned with?
In prayer, we want to align our will with His. We know that "What God Ordains Is Always Good," but we need to come to believe that. In prayer, we meditate on the catechism and the psalms and His promises, and speak back to God what He has first spoken to us.
I'm trying to figure out how prayer chains work into that. If someone I know is worried about an ill relative, I will pray for faith for my friend and that God would preserve the ill person in the Faith. I will also pray for temporal healing if it is God's will. But the main thing is always that God's will to draw people to Himself is accomplished.
So is that what prayer requests and prayer chains are concerned with?
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