“Trust in the Lord and Pray” by Colleen O’Sullivan

“Trust in the Lord and Pray” by Colleen O’Sullivan

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

Thus, says the Lord:  Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down
And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress, he rescues them. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. (Psalm 34:18-19)

“This is how you are to pray:  Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.  (Matthew 6:9-13)

Piety

O Lord, help us to pray as you taught us – with acknowledgment of your holiness, with the hope that our prayer on earth echoes that which rings out in heaven, with desire only for what we need, with forgiveness in our hearts toward those who have wronged us, and with the belief that you can protect us from evil and the temptation to participate in it.

Study

Our Scripture readings today employ a variety of simple images to illustrate profound truths.

Isaiah says God’s word is like gentle rain, which makes the earth green and fertile, producing the basic ingredients for the daily bread that sustains us.  Just as we can count on rain, so we can be sure of God’s word coming to fruition.  These words come from the section of Isaiah known as the Book of Consolation. They are words of hope and encouragement to those still in Exile.

The psalmist writes that God hears the cries of the just and comes to their rescue.  God is particularly close to those who are brokenhearted and acts to save those whose spirits are crushed. 

In the Gospel reading, the disciples want to know how to pray.  Jesus tells them to keep it simple.  God doesn’t need a string of fancy words, just the truth about whatever is in your heart.  Always remember to acknowledge the holiness of our Father, Jesus says.  Pray that all of us on earth might be united in prayer, just as all those in heaven are.  Prayer isn’t asking for the sun, the moon, and the stars; ask God for whatever we need to get through the day.  Pray that God and others forgive our sins in the same measure that we are willing to forgive sins against us.  And don’t forget to ask our Father to protect us against the wiles of the evil one.

Such simple images that are sometimes so difficult to hold in our hearts!  When we find ourselves in Exile of any sort, we want immediate rescue, but God’s time isn’t always our time.  Patient hope can be difficult to sustain.  When I look back at things I prayed for as a much younger person, I can see that God eventually answered those prayers but not always in ways I expected and often many years or decades after I had uttered those prayers. 

When we are brokenhearted, or our spirits have been crushed, it’s hard to imagine that we will ever feel any better.  However, when we open our hearts to God’s love and healing, God can find ways to console and comfort us.  When they have been stomped on, opening our hearts is an act of faith and trust that can be long in coming.    

Maybe we’ve prayed the Lord’s Prayer so often that it’s become a rote exercise, but if we ponder Jesus’ words, we realize that the type of prayer he is setting before us requires our very hearts and souls.  And sometimes a struggle within.  We live in such a consumer society that the idea of asking only for necessities might seem ludicrous.  (Even at three, that’s already a difficult concept to sell to my great-nephew.  Why have only one T-Rex when ten would be better?) 

By far, the most difficult phrase in the Lord’s Prayer is the plea for forgiveness for our sins to the extent that we have forgiven others who have wronged us.  Putting hurts, judgments, or desires for revenge behind us when someone has sinned against us can be the work of a lifetime.  

Action

When you have some quiet time today, try praying the Our Father in your own words.  What do Jesus’ words mean in your life today?  What is it that you need from the Father today?  It doesn’t have to be anything material.  Who in your life has sinned against you, and what do you need to forgive that person?  In what ways does the evil spirit attempt to derail your faith journey?  Ask God for specific help in avoiding the temptation to give in.