May 4, 2008

Communion Meditation

The Rev. A. Thomas Carlson

 

Scriptures:     Acts 1:6-14

                        John 17:1-11

 

            While in the supermarket check-out line, a little paperback caught my eyes:  it wasn’t the Inquirer but The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Prayer.  Even though I am desperately trying to downsize my library, I bought the book.  Only an idiot would do that!  And, it’s not that bad, after all.

 

            It contains:  quotations from The Good Book, prayer pearls, and snapshots of answered prayer.  All are dispersed throughout the booklet.  The first “prayer pearl” is from Billy Graham:  “Prayer is the rope that pulls God and man together.  But it doesn’t pull God down to us; it pulls us up to God.

 

            Our own quote from The Good Book is today’s Gospel reading (John 17:1-11).  It, too, is about prayer.  In fact, it is considered Jesus’ farewell prayer (high priestly prayer) and gives us some insight into His prayer life and potentially into our own.

 

            I.          Jesus shows us how best to approach God.  He always prayed to God as Father.  In fact, He uses the familiar address to God at least six times in this prayer.  That doesn’t mean our use of Father each time we pause in a prayer makes our praying more effective.  In fact, one commentator feels it makes a noun into a comma!  Jesus used it freely because of being God’s Son.  Whenever, in a parent-child relationship, the child addresses parents as Mom or Dad, there is a measure of respect clearly shown.

 

            People should be encouraged to pray in the conversational language that is “natural” to them.  But our approach to God really does matter, and how we choose to address God is always a good indicator of our relationship to God.  And, in many ways, God acts in our best interest, as does a loving parent to his or her child.

 

            The hymn writer, Brian Wren, shows us ways to approach God in positive, uplifting, and scriptural language through his hymn God of Many Names, found on Page 105 of our hymnal.

 

            In the 13th Century, Merchtild of Magdeburg (Germany) wrote of God:

                        “O Strength beyond resistance,

                        O Crown beyond all majesty;

                        The humblest thing You created sings Your praise.”

 

            Jesus set the course for respectful approach to God by addressing God as Father.  God accepts our respectful approach as well!

 

            II.          Once we have made the approach, it is okay to pray for oneself.  Jesus did and so can we.  Even as He faced certain crises, Jesus calmly asked God to “glorify Your Son.”  It is appropriate to ask God for strength, determination, perseverance, and even glory!  As I have been sorting books that I’ve collected over the years, I’ve found at least a dozen that focus on a healthy, positive self-image.  Interestingly enough they were written by ministers of the Gospel.  None of these books would even suggest a narcissism (or self-centered love), but recognize that a healthy self-image is an important key to a full and useful life.  It has to do with self-realization not self-centeredness.  Jesus is saying to me and to you it is appropriate to ask God to help make it happen.  In the end, God’s purposes are met through folks who experience self-realization!  Never be ashamed to ask God for self-glory in this context.

 

            III.         Finally, we see in Jesus’ prayer, concern for the church.  He sought God’s protection on behalf of those disciples (followers) left to spread the Gospel Story far and wide.  The best way for me to interpret this passage is that those who became Christ followers, did so in an hostile environment.  Jesus is asking God to protect them in the face of trouble.

 

            His circle of concern, in this prayer, is expanded to encompass future generations of Christ followers, that includes us.  We sometimes sing the Taize song, “Jesus, Remember Me When You Come Into Your Kingdom” (repeat).  In this high priestly prayer, Jesus is about to make His entrance, and He remembers you and me!  Jesus not only remembers us for our needs, but also prays for our faithfulness to His word in this world.

 

            Jesus models prayer for us in three ways.  Number 1, it matters how we approach God.  Number 2, it is okay to pray first for yourself--even your own glory (self-realization) if it makes a difference for God.  Number 3, pray for one another, even as Jesus prays for God’s own.  Taking this approach, focus on God’s will for your life and the resources will be supplied to meet it.

 

            Another prayer pearl from The Complete Idiot’s Guide:  this time from the Egyptian monk, Evagrius Ponticus.  “Your desires are probably not in complete harmony with God’s will.  Pray instead that God will lead you to want the right things.  Ask for what is good and what is best for your soul.  There is no way you could want these things for yourself more than God desires you to have them.”  Amen.