EPIPHANY VI
February 16, 2025
“O Lord, Hear Us Pray”
How’s your prayer life these days? This question might be answered with a startled look, a self-conscious laugh, or an uncomfortable silence. That question would probably be considered by many of us to be inappropriately personal and frankly, no one else’s business. And yet, our worship services are filled with prayer, our various church meetings generally begin and end with prayer, and for many of us, mealtime and bedtime include a time of prayer.
But somehow, we seem to get all uncomfortable and inarticulate when we think we “should” pray. It’s like we have to have some special way of speaking and expressing ourselves, because — well, it’s prayer. So maybe we just don’t say anything, but what does that accomplish?
Our current generations are hardly the first to find it challenging to communicate and be in relationship with our heavenly Father — the Apostle Paul wrote this to the early church at Rome: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27)
These words of assurance tell us to turn our thoughts and feelings over to God’s Holy Spirit, trusting that our heavenly Father will hear and understand us. We know that we are children of God, loved and cared for, saved by his grace. What a beautiful promise of understanding and comfort!
The Gospel of Matthew (Ch. 6) includes a teaching by Jesus, in which he tells the disciples not to be like those who make a big show of giving alms or pray loudly in public so that everyone will be impressed by their piety. Rather, he tells them (and us) to make prayer a personal, private, thoughtful time to bring whatever is in our hearts to God. Following this lesson, he teaches them the Lord’s Prayer. These beautiful words have led Christians in prayer over the centuries, whether individually, as families, congregations, or large gatherings. We share our faith with all, as we say, “Our Father . . .” together.
No wonder we turn to the Lord’s Prayer when our own words seem to fail us. We praise God, we ask for protection and care, we ask for both forgiveness and the ability to forgive. As we acknowledge God’s power throughout all time, there is a sense of being uplifted and no longer helpless or alone. The Lord’s Prayer can often be a path to our individual prayers, as it is so all-encompassing. We find the confidence to ask for grace and mercy for those we love and care for, and to open our hearts and minds to follow God’s will for our lives. Let us join with the disciples in their request, “Lord, teach us to pray,” and then listen and learn about being in relationship with our Father in heaven.
Together we learn, we listen, we trust,
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers