Proper 12C

In the gospel passage from Luke today, we hear that 

Jesus takes some time to pray. 

He does this frequently in the gospel stories.

Going off to spend some time reconnecting to the divine.

This is not the first time Jesus has gone off to pray 

nor will it be the last time

and the disciples are starting to realize something special is going on.  

The Jewish tradition had ways of praying... 

prayers for certain times and certain activities.

And however much Jesus was completing these, 

he takes more time to go and pray.

So much so the disciples want to be a part of it.

We think we should know how to pray as Christians

and we feel lots of things when we recognize that we don't.

Guilt, shame, blame.

As if we are supposed to know exactly how to do something 

even if we are not taught how to do it!

The liturgy tries to help us learn to pray.

We pray in many different ways during the service and that is supposed to guide you

deeper into your own prayer life.

We pray together, I pray for the community,

We pray in our own words, we pray in words set for us.

We pray seated, standing, kneeling...

We pray in so many ways as a community

and in so many different situations

so that people learn that they can pray anywhere and anytime.

Does everyone pick up on that?

Probably not.

Some of us, as we grow up with it, pick it up and recognize some of that intuitively.

However, especially if you come to Christianity as an adult, it can be difficult to understand.

Or even worse, growing up in it and not understanding as an adult and being afraid to ask.

Yet, even the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray.

So don't be worried about asking Jesus to help you to pray.

Might be the best first step.

If you don't have a regular prayer life at home, ask Jesus to teach you to pray.

And then listen.

Because have no doubt, Jesus will teach you pray, if you ask.

Just remember, the answer may not be exactly what you were expecting.

Jesus can be rather surprising.

And prayer can be rather surprising.

Many times prayer

communicating with God

is like communicating with children,

you got to be persistent, and no matter what, you'll be surprised.

But in the end you end up much better than you were before.

Wherever we are on our prayer journey we can always go deeper

Our summer reading book, Sacred Rhythms

invites us to look at our prayer practices and take a next step

adding in a different practice or a new understanding of something old

We never reach the end

There is so much still to be learned. 

Part of enlightenment is knowing how much we don't know

humility is just as much a part of the process 

add music 

 

In the spirit of prayer and going deeper

We are going to do something slightly different today during this time.

A sermon is supposed to be a reflection, 

a meditation on what we have heard in the scriptures.

What I have just heard in the scriptures is the longing to pray.

Jesus longs to pray 

The disciples long to pray

and perhaps we long to pray.

I feel it in my soul, 

when I take the time to listen to my soul,

this longing to pray,

but also I know the feeling of inadequacy,

the feeling of not knowing what to say,

the feeling of being so small and petty before God.

Thankfully, God invites us in,

No matter what

to connect

to pray.

I am going to guide us through a prayer meditation

to give us space to pray

perhaps in a different way

I want you to settle your body

I know those pews are not the most comfortable

but find a spot where you are comfortable

however you need to sit to settle

take a deep breath in

filling your lungs

and let it out

settling your arms and legs where they are

Take a deep breath in

and either close your eyes

or find a spot to focus on gently

let go of your breath

Take a deep breath in 

and quiet your mind

let out the air and let go of all the troubles on your mind

take a deep breath in

and notice what you truly want this morning

breath out and let it go

Keep breathing

slowly and steadily 

letting your mind soften

Eternal God,

we thank you 

we thank you for the gift of breath

we thank you for the gift of connection

we thank you for the gift of prayer.

Help us to connect to you this morning

help us to pray to you this morning

Help us in our asking, in our searching, in our finding

because we know you are with us

every step, every breath

of the way.

Help us to pray this day

with all that we are and all that we have.

We pray this through your Most Holy Name.

Amen. 

Inside of each of us

is a place

a soul place

where we know God is waiting for us

breath into this place

Here is where we ask

Here is where we search

and here is where we find

What is waiting there for you?

What longings does your soul cry out with?

What do you want to ask Jesus?

Take a deep breath and open your heart

Let Jesus hear what is waiting

Let Jesus hear what you are longing for

Let Jesus know what you desire

God is longing to pray with you

Just as much as you are longing for that connection

Sink into it

(give some quiet time - 2 min

set timer and wait and breathe)

As you are comfortable

open your eyes

gently

and take a look around

God is in this space

with us

Almighty God,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,

thank you for this time together

thank you for the prayers we have.

Thank you for these blessed bodies

thank you for this beautiful space

thank you for this loving community.

We ask that you stay with us

as we travel through this service

as we travel through this day

as we travel through our lives.

We know you answer every prayer

we know you know every breath

We thank you for your amazing goodness.

With the blessing of all creation,

we say Amen. 

Amen.