Observing Lent the Lord’s Way: #4 Pray

 

Prayer is a private matter –
privileged communication –
between you and your God.
It is no one else’s business!
  
Yes, they thought they knew how to pray.
Just like we think we know how to pray.

But, Jesus told them, and Jesus tells us,
they had it wrong, and most of us have it wrong.

In God we live and have our being, and prayer is as natural as breathing.
We come as we are.
God is already present.
As soon as we tune in, the exchange begins.


Habakkuk 3:2, 17-19
Matthew 6: 5-9

Today is the fourth Sunday of Lent.
Lent is a fascinating time in the church year that Presbyterians are only beginning to appreciate.
Used to be, as you know, we never observed Lent in Presbyterian churches.
 
But, today we see this time as an opportunity to attend to the parts of our lives that we often neglect.

From the very earliest times, Christians took time out before Easter to reflect on their faith, cultivate it, and prepare for a most joyous celebration of Easter.

Remembering that Jesus took 40 days off to prepare for the beginning of his ministry, the church sets aside these 40 days prior to Easter for us to get ready.

I have been concerned for some time that we in the church are somewhat off track with our Lenten emphases each year.
So I decided to do something a little different this year.
This year I am exploring what it would be like if we observed Lent according to what Jesus said.
So, I am calling the series: Observing Lent the Lord’s Way.

The first Sunday, we observed how Jesus took that time off. 
He took time to take a time out - for 40 days.
It obviously was of great benefit to him as he was about to start his earthly ministry.
And, the promise is that it could be of great benefit to us, as well, if we were to take the time to take a time out each day for this time before Easter.

And, two weeks ago I reminded us that Jesus left some pretty specific instructions about how we should observe Lent.
Oh, to be sure, Jesus never observed Lent, and Jesus wouldn’t understand what Lent has become,
but, Jesus was very concerned about appropriate behavior for people of faith.
And he spells a lot of this out in the sixth chapter of Matthew.

The very first thing Jesus addresses in the first verse of Matthew’s chapter 6 is to “Make certain you do not perform your religious duties in public - so that people will see what you do.”
Jesus says that God is just not interested in public displays of faith.
In fact, we should wash our face and comb our hair so others will not have a clue as to what we may up to.

Last week we heard what Jesus said about fasting:
"When you fast," he said, "don’t do like the hypocrites do by putting on a sad face and making a show of it,
but make sure you wash your face and comb your hair so others won’t know what you are doing."

Fasting had become an integral part how faithful folks practiced their faith.
Fasting was understood, and expected.
So he said, “When you fast” . . .
Not “if you fast”.
“Don’t make a show of it, so others will know what you are doing.”
In fact, Jesus completely redefines the whole concept of fasting.  (Check out what I said last week, it’s on line on our website.)

And, here in the fifth verse of the sixth chapter of Matthew, Jesus gives us instruction on prayer.
We are encouraged to pray.
It is part and parcel of our faith.
Prayer was an important part of Jesus’ life and whole being.
And he had some pointed things to say about how we should observe Lent this year.

Jesus told those gathered on the mountain that day, and he tells us, to pray –
but never ever make a show of it,
don’t be like those hypocrites,
just don’t pray in public.
In fact, when you do pray, be sure to go to your room and shut the door. 
Prayer is a private matter –
privileged communication –
between you and your God.
It is no one else’s business!

And, Jesus doesn’t stop there, does he?
And, another thing, Jesus says, “when you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words.” 
Keep it simple.
There is no magic formula that needs to be said.
There are no “holy’‘ words to memorize.
And nothing is gained by making prayers long.

Then, Jesus gives the example.
This is how a prayer should be.
And, he begins: “Our Father, who art in heaven . . .”
What we call The Lord’s Prayer .”

Prayer was a big thing to Jesus.
He seemed to be praying all the time.
He prayed before and during all major events in his life that we find in our Bible.

And, prayer was a big thing to people of faith in Jesus time.
But, Jesus thought that what people were doing with prayer was off-base.
The people observed what the priests and holy ones did and heard how they prayed.
They learned how to pray from them.
And they learned their lessons well.

But, Jesus said, that’s not what real prayer is.
Think about it, God knows you and God knows your heart,
God knows your need – as well as your joys – even before you are aware of them.
God doesn’t need a lot of gooble-de-gook from you.
God needs just for you to recognize what’s going on in the world around you and how you fit in to it.

And, most certainly, God is not impressed with public displays of prayer in any way shape or form.
When you engage a public display of prayer you are doing it for your own reward from those who see you – and those who may hear you.

In fact, the only honest prayer comes when you are in private, out of sight, behind closed doors.

Yes, they thought they knew how to pray.
Just like we think we know how to pray.
After all, most of us have been praying for years and years.

But, Jesus told them,
and Jesus tells us,
they had it wrong,
and most of us have it wrong.

Sam Walker Foss puts this into perspective with his poem "Cyrus Brown's Prayer":

"The proper way for man to pray,"
Said Deacon Lemuel Keyes,
"And the only proper attitude,
Is down upon his knees."

"No, I should say the way to pray,"
Said Reverend Dr. Wise,
"Is standing straight with outstretched arms,
And rapt and upturned eyes."

"Oh, no, no, no!" said Elder Slow,
"Such posture is too proud;
A man should pray with eyes fast closed,
And head contritely bowed."

"It seems to me his hands should be
Austerely clasped in front.
With both thumbs pointing toward the ground,"
Said Reverend Dr. Blunt.

"Las' year I fell in Hodgkin's well
Head first," said Cyrus Brown.
"With both my heels a-stickin' up,
My head a-pointin' down;

"An' I made a prayer right then an' there
Best prayer I ever said,
The Prayin'est prayer I ever prayed,
A-standin' on my head."

One preacher reminds us that part of the difficulty lies in the fact that we do not live in a praying world. It is a frightened and frightening world, but it is not a world that knows how to pray.
It perhaps would like to pray, but many have given up on the task.
It is a world that contains many who prayed once, but have given up the effort.
There are many gifted people in this world, who do the best they can to meet the challenges of a troubled world and who seek to become worthwhile people and contributing members to society.
But through it all there is a sense of isolation from God and because of that isolation, they feel alone in their struggle.

The real problem is that most of us were never taught about what prayer is and can be.
We grew up confusing the God and our discourse with God and Santa,
from whom we asked many gifts and favors.

Well-meaning church theologians haven't helped much either.
Their definitions and discussions on the matter often leave us cold and confused.
I even heard one well-known theologian in a seminar say: "Prayer is basically man in the totality of being stretched out to possess the transcendent, awesome God in the intimate inwardness of his deepest consciousness."
That sure clarifies things and sets our hearts and minds to the task, doesn't it?

Some you may have read Olive Ann Burn’s book, Cold Sassy Tree.
One of the characters, Grandpa Rucker, is a pretty lively character who can be counted on to dispense wisdom born of experience.

Listen to what Grandpa Rucker says:

"Another thang to think on: some folks ain't said pea-turkey to God in years.
They don't ast Him for nothin',
don't specially try to be good,
and don't love nobody the way Jesus said to 'cept their own self.
But they go'n git jest bout as much or as little in the way a-earthly goods as the rest of us.
They go'n have sorrows and joys,
failure and good times.
And when they come down sick they go'n git well or die, one,
jest same as the prayin' folks.
So don't thet tell you something bout prayin'?
Ain't the best prayin' jest bein' with God and talkin' a while,
like He's a good friend,
stead a-like he runs a store and you've come in a-hopin' to get a bargain?"

(When you pray, say Father – Papa – Daddy – )

Grandpa Rucker got to the heart of the matter our hearts.
Prayer is being in communion with God, not something to be used when needs arise.
Prayer is being in relationship so that God can speak to us,
more than our pestering God with a grocery list of wants.
Prayer is finding peace in the midst of troubles,
calm in the midst of calamity,
and love in the midst of our loneliness.
It is not that we don't know how to pray;
it is that we have lost what it means to be in relationship with a loving, hearing, forgiving and gracious God.

Prayer is the only skill the disciples ever asked Jesus to teach them.
They didn't ask him how to heal,
or to teach,
or to ask for money,
or to run meetings,
or to do miracles,
or to manage crowds,
or to organize a movement
or start a church.
They asked him to teach them how to pray.
And Jesus said. When you pray, say "Our Father."

Our Father.
Not our God, Lord, commander, master.
Our Father.
Prayer was the way he began every important step of his life.


Anne Lamott thinks there are really three essential prayers.
Three things that spur our relationship with our God.
The three prayers that are genuine, most real, and so basic are:
Help,
Thanks,
and Wow.

Friends, you can write this down and take it with you: Prayer is simply being together with God.
Acknowledging that you are always in God's presence.
Prayer is mutual awareness and the quiet exchange, as when two friends sit before a fire.

Prayer involves exchange.
Just knowing that the power of the infinite surrounds us in all we do, we offer an effort to live a good life.

We give to God our human loves and our daily chores.

We give to God our small efforts to create a better world.
We share with God all our concerns,
for that is what friends do, isn't it?

Most of us live busy lives, and when we pray unceasingly, much of our prayer takes place on the run.
Whether we operate machinery,
change diapers and wash dishes,
or grapple with problems at a desk or on a phone, we too can have those moments of heightened awareness and greater exchange with the Mystery that is always right where we are.

We have people, concerns, and appreciations to hold up to God as we bathe and dress,
as we drive from place to place,
as we stand in the line at the bank or grocery store, as we wrestle with our responsibilities,
and as we relax with our friends.

Friends, the prayer of a good person has a powerful affect.
In God we live and have our being, and prayer is as natural as breathing.
We come as we are.
God is already present.
As soon as we tune in, the exchange begins.
It is usually quiet and low-key, but something profound is happening.

Many of you in this room can attest to the veracity of the words of James: The prayer of a good person has a powerful affect.
Prayer has an affect on others,
and prayer changes you.
Pray unceasingly.
Experience for yourself, the healing power of prayer.
And you will be well on your way to living a fuller life – a max-life.

This is prayer the Lord’s way.
This will help you to observe Lent the Lord’s way this year.
You are on the way toward the very best Easter ever!
Amen.

This sermon was shared with the congregation of Christ Presbyterian Church in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, USA, during a worship service, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 10, 2013.