Readings: EST C:12, 14-16, 23-25; MT 7:7-12
Today we have a little lesson about prayer.
Most of us were taught a lot of things that were either only partially true about prayer or, likely, not true at all.
The mystics tell us that prayer is about relationship. So think about a relationship that is meaningful and important to you. Does only one person do the talking? Does one person just keep asking for things? Does the other person always do what you want, when you want it? Does the other person feel for you when you’re going through hardship? Does the other person have your back when things get hard?
In today’s readings, we hear about Queen Esther who is in moral anguish and in her time of need – with nowhere else to turn – she calls upon her God. Many of us can probably relate to this.
And then Jesus in the gospel tells us to ask and we shall receive, seek and we shall find and knock and it shall be opened. Far from being a promise to get what we want, this is a primer on posture. Prayer posture, that is.
God wants us to pray as if EVERYTHING depended on God. EVERYTHING. And for people who have no options left, it does. For many people who are deprived of rights, of privilege, of income and of protections from the harshness of life, prayer is a lifeline. When all else is stripped away, prayer reveals our radical dependency on God for our very breath. Don’t get me wrong, God does not wish us to have no options and feel desperate. That is not good for anyone. Oh but to have that disposition when we pray.
The Hebrew word for breath is ruah. It is the same word for spirit. And in the Hebrew understanding, it was God that breathed life and spirit into us – and without that we would no longer exist. Many of us forget this because we get caught up into our own lives, our own power, our own importance (basically all the temptations that Jesus faced in the desert).
And so a proper “posture” of prayer is to thank God with every breath. It is to remember that we are in a very intimate relationship with this God who cares so deeply about us and wants to spend time with us.
God does “hear” us, and Jesus counsels us that God wants what is good for us. This may not translate into our exact prayers being answered, however. Can we trust, though, and stay with God and keep depending on God.
My suspicion is that our dominant culture has shaped a lot of us into thinking that prayer is about product. It’s awfully hard to escape the capitalistic overlay on just about everything…
Just sit with God today as if your breath depended on God. And let God sit with you as if God’s presence in the world depended on you. Say what is in your heart. Hear what is in God’s. Laugh. Weep. Be silent. Know that all is well.
8 Comments
Nannette Dusseault
“…let God sit with you as if God’s presence in the world depended on you.”
Thank you for today’s gift! This particular message struck me so I’d love to learn more. What does this means to others?
Mike Boucher Author
thanks for inviting others to respond, Nannette!
Marilyn Rizzo-Ferris
I like the Hebrew word “ruah” for breath and also for spirit. When I say ruah, it feels so freeing.
Sister Margie use to say to let God sit upon your heart. It was to feel his presence within you.
Mike Boucher Author
Amen, Marilyn, and I appreciate your mentioning Sr. Margie. She has been a great teacher for me about prayer and action!
Sue Spoonhower
The posture of prayer – that is something I want to think about more. With each breath remember that it is God who gives us breath. That’s much more intimate than remembering how much God loves me, than acknowledging my goodness. That really fills me up. Thank you, Mike.
Mike Boucher Author
Thanks, Sue. I also think about other faith traditions that pray multipe times a day – with words and bodies – to help them remember just that.
Barb Simmons
It’s always easy for me to feel thankful to God for all I have been given. However, over these past several days of uncertainty in the world I have felt unnerved. I see fear and discouragement. This is when I have to trust that God is holding my hand and that He is with me right where I am. I pray for strength in my faith and for extra encouragement. I like the idea of God sitting with me as if His presence in the world depended on me. Thank you, Mike.
Mike Boucher Author
I appreciate your naming the fear and discouragement, Barb, because I feel them too and I think they are all around us. Much of the modern “mindfulness” work (which mirrors the Christian contemplative tradition, the Buddhist meditation tradition, etc.) is just to have us return to our breath in this present moment. So simple. Hardly easy.
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