Tuesday of the 1st
week of Lent
March 11, 2014 8:30am
This morning I suggest we allow
the words of Isaiah remind us of an important truth about prayer.
Isaiah compares the Word of God
to the rain and snow that come down from the heavens and do not return there
until they have watered the earth and made it fruitful.
These words bring to my mind the
truth that prayer involves listening and taking in, and not just speaking and
putting out words.
Sometimes we act in prayer like a
person sitting nervously with a new acquaintance.
We feel we have to be saying
something every minute.
We find pauses in the
conversation uncomfortable.
It is very different for a couple
who have been together for a long time or for two friends who have known each
other for years.
Here we can sit together, gazing
at a fire or listening to music, without feeling that we have to be saying
something every moment.
Similarly, Jesus says that in
prayer we should not just babble on – isn’t that a great expression?
Isn’t it true that sometimes our
prayer lacks the space and silence that allow God to speak to us and influence
our minds and thoughts?
It is like Isaiah says – allow
the Word of God like the rain and snow to moisten the earth and enable it to
bring forth fruits and vegetables.
So, it is important to see true
prayer as a dialogue and not just a one-sided conversation.
God’s work in us requires that we
leave God some opening, a chance to be heard.
It can be very difficult to do
this in a world of so much noise and so little silence.
And, sometimes our minds can
wander when we try this and we get distracted.
It may help to take a phrase from
the gospel or one of the readings and keep coming back to it, as a way to focus
or refocus our attention and allow space and silence for God to speak to us.
So, an important truth about
prayer this morning!
