Faith Venture

There was a marketing tag line for one of those gossip periodicals found in the grocery store check out queue—Inquiring minds want to know.

Well, I am blessed, or cursed, with almost infinite curiosity. Inquiring minds want to know.

Jesus’s friends had noticed how he regularly withdrew from them to be alone to pray. So they asked him, “Teach us to pray.”

Did Jesus give them a practice? No. He gave them words. Depending upon our tradition, we call these recorded words “The Lord’s Prayer” or the “Our Father.”

Of course, that is firmly in the Jewish rabbinic tradition. They were focused on words. Boys were accepted into what I call “Rabbi School” when they showed a proclivity as early as eight years of age for memorizing the Laws and the Prophets. They studied under a master Rabbi. They learned to debate the meanings of the words they had memorized.

Jesus surely went through such training. Check out the story of him at 12 in the Temple. Or the fact that everyone accepted him as a rabbi. Or that all his responses to questions except one reflected the teaching of the leading Galilean rabbi of the time. (One answer regarding divorce seemed to reflect the teaching of the more conservative Judean leading rabbi.)

So, he taught the disciples a prayer they could memorize.

I wish he had taught them his practice. Or at least, that his disciples had recorded it if he did.

I do like the prayer, though. As I pray it, I’m reminded of almost the entire gospel.

We are not alone but in the community of all God’s children (Our father). Remembering Jesus’s teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven being all around us, we recognize God as in heaven, that is, all around us, but spiritually not physically. We recognize God as being the leader/ruler/primary focus for obedience. We ask to be fed. We recognize we need to extend forgiveness as much as to ask for it for ourselves. We need help from succumbing to temptation. And it is all within God’s wishes.

But when I sit to pray, I may think of these words or the Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me, a sinner). But I  have a practice of time, place, posture, breathing, awareness, focus.

My wife was raised in a Baptist church. They taught her you don’t “say” prayers. You pray from the heart.

I learned that while they may not be “saying” the Lord’s Prayer (the Our Father) they still had formulas or templates for prayers.

To me, it was a moot point.

Last night I contemplated what goes through my mind as we pray the Lord’s Prayer during church service.

I turn the center of my attention toward God.

I contemplate the meaning of the Kingdom being around me and in me.

I am thankful for that which sustains me every day—food, shelter, people.

I feel forgiveness and think of those I need to forgive.

What temptations drew my attention yesterday?

I am thankful for protection from evil temptations that arise from within.

My attention returns to center on God.

And I agree with God as God intended.

I’m sure there are times we recite the words from memory with just the comfort of ritual. As for me, I like the series of reminders of that which is important. It’s a good way to start and end a day.

Years of teaching Yoga classes taught me to observe form. A proper form yields anticipated results. Improper form at best helps little and at worst leads to injury.

I’ve watched some people at the resistance training machines at my gym. Many move the weight in short and jerky movements. They are obtaining minimal results.

Others use long and smooth movements. They may explode up and slowly return. This movement gives the lifter maximum muscle benefit. Stretching afterward will not be required because they have already moved the muscle in its complete cycle.

Prayer life emulates these actions.

Perhaps we just have short exclamations of prayer as we remember something or see someone.

Perhaps we sit for a regular and sufficiently long period of time. That may only be 5 minutes or 15 minutes. But it could be long enough to stretch the prayer muscle.  Repetition leads to benefits of stronger prayer, better relationship with God, and even health benefits of reduced stress.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me.

This simple prayer formed the bedrock of meditation for Christians ever since the first century. I have found that it can be said silently (or aloud) with the rhythm of breath. It serves to regulate breathing into a slow, steady pattern.

The Apostle Paul once advised followers of Jesus to pray without ceasing. Many have used this prayer as a tool to assist in that discipline. Pause often during the day to simply remember this prayer. It helps.