|
Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18
Psalm 34:2-3,17-18, 19, 23
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Luke 18:9-14
Is there a proper way to pray?
Is there a formula for prayer that guarantees a return on the time spent in prayer? This might sound like a disrespectful question, but sometimes I wonder if it is how we view prayer.
In the New York Times best-selling book “Learning to Pray, a Guide for Everyone”, James Martin, SJ, writes that there is no one right way to pray. It is liberating to read this. He offers options for prayer, all the while emphasizing that prayer is about establishing a relationship with God and that there are as many ways to do so as there are people seeking to pray. He advises that prayer changes over a lifetime and can alter a life's trajectory.
Many of us were raised on memorized prayers that included how to position our hands or bodies during prayer. While this can help teach children the basics of prayer, it falls short with maturity and life experience.
All the scripture readings today focus on prayer in times of need. Sirach reminds us that God knows “no favorites,” but leans into the oppressed, the orphan, and the widow, and that their prayer, that of the lowly, “pierces the clouds.”
The psalmist is direct: “The Lord hears the cry (the prayer) of the poor,” and “is close to the brokenhearted and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.”
In the second reading, Paul, realizing his death is near, demonstrates his deep belief in prayer: “I have finished the race; I have kept the faith…the Lord stood by me and gave me strength.”
And finally, we hear the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee, the good pray-er and the not so good pray-er. The tax collector is considered shady, while the Pharisee is looked up to as part of the day's religious elite. Yet, Jesus lauds the prayer of the taxpayer who begs for mercy and forgiveness for his sins, and calls out the Pharisee, who is looking for a pat on the back for his superior adherence to the religious laws of the time. One has a humble heart and the other a boastful heart.
All of today’s readings deserve more than a cursory glance. They offer a deep sense of hope to carry us through difficult times. They affirm that God is with us no matter the difficulties. Our sleepless nights and stressful days soften with prayer and the awareness of God in our midst.
Peace,
Anne
| 
