July 24, 2022: May God’s words be spoken, may God’s words be heard. Amen.

It is good to be back with all of you – or at least those of you brave enough to bear this insane heat.  I pray many of you that are not here are watching from a cool and comfortable place.  Speaking of prayer, it would seem a disciple of Jesus wants to know how to do that – that thing Jesus was doing in the gospel we heard today.

The passage opens with “Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say…” and then gives them the Lukan form of what we commonly call The Lord’s Prayer, which differs a bit from the one we get in the Gospel of Matthew.  And the thing is, it would, because the author of Luke & Acts, and the author of Matthew, are speaking to two different audiences. 

Matthew is written by and for Jewish followers of Jesus.  Luke-Acts is written by and for Gentiles (non-Jewish, or non-religious) people of the Greco-Roman world.  And when we speak to different folks, we should do so with respect to their life setting, in their language, and in a way that makes sense to them. 

The Gospel of Luke is sometimes thought of as the gospel of women, the Holy Spirit, the poor, and…prayer.  This author mentions “…prayer more than any other…[recording] nine prayers of Jesus, of which all but two are found in no other Gospel.  Luke associates prayer with the most important moments of Jesus’ life…Luke alone relates two special parables about prayer: the friend at midnight and the unjust judge. [This author] alone presents the story of the Pharisee and the Publican at prayer in the Temple, [and, it is in this gospel…] that Jesus exhorted his disciples to pray during his agony in Gethsemane.”[1]

So, clearly one of the things this author wants us to know about Jesus is that he prays – a lot.  But why?  Well, maybe if we think about what prayer is, and isn’t, we will better understand why Jesus does it so much, and why we need to as well.

Sadly, we seem to have allowed prayer to become something like a shopping list of things we want, or perhaps a script that demonstrates how darned holy we are for knowing how to do it, where, and when.  We get caught up in formulas, think it has to end with an “Amen,” begin with great reverence, or contain theologically deep expressions of faith.  We even sometimes think like that disciple – that we don’t know how to do it. 

I remember Bishop Hughes once saying something to the effect of “longing for the day when she goes into a church meeting, and a lay person volunteers to lead the opening or closing prayer, rather than looking at the ordained folk to do it.”

The thing is, prayer isn’t about getting it right, asking for things, or sounding holy as a saint.  It is conversation – conversation with God.  If we think about it, maybe that is why Jesus didn’t tell them how to pray before this, because in their very conversations with him, they were already in prayer – they just didn’t seem to understand that yet.  Still, one might want to ask – if Jesus is a part of the Holy Trinity – the Divine 3 in 1 and 1 in 3, why is he praying? Couldn’t he just have a conversation with himself?  Okay, maybe put some earbuds in so folks think he is on a call and not crazy, but still, right?  But, I suppose we shouldn’t dive down that Christological rabbit hole today.  Still, no matter how we pray, or why, prayer is conversation, and that is a symbol of relationship. 

In fact, it is a necessary part of relationship.  That is why Jesus prays, and why we need to pray too – because our faith is in a God who loves us beyond measure – who is, whether we like it, realize it, or ask for it – in relationship with us from before we ever emerged from the womb.  And who invites us into conversation – even when that prayer is one of anger, disappointment, and even, as we see in the Hebrew lesson from Genesis, a litany of bargaining.

Now, you might not think of Abraham’s negotiating with God over the fate of Sodom & Gomorrah as being prayer, but you can’t argue with the fact that he is engaging in conversation with the Almighty.  Now, before I say anything more, let me be very clear – the destruction of those cities was not about homosexuality, but about people who marginalize, abuse, and oppress – who are not hospitable to strangers, who are unwelcoming of those who are different.  That is a sermon for another day.  Still, the thing to think about for today is that Abraham and God were in dialog with one another – okay, it was a humorous sort of conversation, and likely exasperating on the part of God, but then again – conversations with those we love can be exactly that – frustrating.

Today, frustrating conversations are sadly all too familiar, in our families, in our nation, and even in the church. Having just returned from the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, I am always in awe of how thousands of faithful Episcopalians can gather in one place, and despite our many differences, we are able to prayerfully engage in the work of the church.  And perhaps it is because of that bit…prayerfully…that it is all possible – because prayer is conversation with God – and conversation with God is a relationship of love.  If love, divine love – love that is unconditional and never ending – is at the root of all that you do, then divisions that seem overwhelming in the context of our human capacity for hate and indifference, can be bridged to effect lasting change, even if that seems so far from our grasp.

In her book, Help, Thanks, Wow: Three Essential Prayers, Anne Lamott wrote, “Prayer is our sometimes real selves trying to communicate with the Real, with Truth, with the Light. It is reaching out to be heard, hoping to be found by a light and warmth in the world, instead of darkness and cold.” 

Ms. Lamott is getting at something I think it truly important.  Prayer is a profound statement of hope.  We enter into conversation with God because we have hope – even if we are hanging on to it by a thread.  In fact, even when we are angry with God, we are still in relationship – still with a bit of hope.  Because the opposite of love isn’t hate…it is indifference.  Our anger is born out of pain, and we cast that on a God who we hope will listen. 

And God does listen…even when we don’t say a word.

A few days ago, my sister-in-law, Carla, had just that type of prayer, though she didn’t call it that.  Now, I know it is dangerous thing to be related to clergy because they just might include stuff about you in a sermon.  However, in fairness, she did post it publicly on Facebook (and I told her I was sooooo going to use her story). The thing is, Carla is one of those folks who is nearly always joyful, helpful, and fearless.  She runs marathons, hikes and camps with the Scouts (even at swamp base), goes on river excursions, and so much more.  She is a woman of deep faith, who would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it. 

Every Monday as she goes on her run around her town of Annapolis Maryland, she will stop for a moment, take a photo, and wish everyone a Happy Day from Annapolis, encouraging us to make it the best week we can.  This past Monday, she posted this with a beautiful photo of a dock, boats, and the water.

“Happy Monday from Annapolis! This picture is from Saturday when I went for a long run…in the late morning heat. Well, I ended up having to take a break here in the shade because I was just too darned hot. As I was berating myself for being weak and lazy, I received a text from a friend who ended up just needing to chat. Had I not recognized my physical weakness, I might not have been there for my friend. What a missed opportunity for building a stronger relationship that would’ve been for both of us, because she made me feel better, too! My take away: listen to your body, listen to your heart, and try to be there to listen to your friends. This is strength! Make it an awesome week!”

What she doesn’t say, is that Saturday was at the end of a very difficult week for her, her husband Dwight (my big brother), and my mom.  In addition to the general stresses of life these days, their beloved dog Bella, a feisty and fun little Jack Russell terrier, and my favorite (and only) niece, had died.  So, here she is angry at herself for her fatigue after such a terrible week, and in the scorching heat, when a call comes in that changes everything.” 

It was an answer to prayer. 

Okay… you might ask, when did she pray?  Well, when she stopped running and starting beating herself up.  She may not have been trying to speak with God, but God was listening.  And God was listening to her friend who needed to chat too.  Entering into conversation with God isn’t always about what we say or do, but about our pain, our joy, our hope, or our fear.  We may not express it openly, but God knows it nonetheless, and responds to it in ways we may not fully understand.

Lamott also added this about prayer “Prayer means that, in some unique way, we believe we’re invited into a relationship with someone who hears us when we speak in silence.”[2]  And I would add, even when we don’t even realize we are saying anything at all. 

Prayer is the “Wow!” we feel in our hearts when we see those pictures from the James Webb telescope that stun us with the awesomeness of God’s universe.

Prayer is the willingness to listen to those who think, look, act, vote, worship, speak, or love differently than us.

Prayer is the hope found amidst despair to throw our anger, disappointment, and fear against God…on the chance that maybe, just maybe, we are not forsaken, but deeply and unequivocally loved.

Prayer is, as Lamott points out “…taking a chance that against all odds and past history, we are loved and chosen, and do not have to get it together before we show up…And as it turns out,” she continued, “…if one person is praying for you, buckle up. Things can happen.” 

Things can indeed happen, and have happened throughout the course of human events, because of prayer.  And Lord knows, the world is in need of it now more than ever before…so too our church.  Yes, our church is in need of prayer.

For even today, as bishops from across our Anglican Communion gather in Lambeth, there is great pain. (For information on the Lambeth Conference, click here: https://www.lambethconference.org) This conference had already begun in exclusion when the spouses of Lesbian and Gay bishops were told to stay home.  While at least these bishops were invited this time, the inhospitable nature of the exclusion of their spouses was a slap in the face – not only to them, but to all LGBTQ+ people across the Communion. 

Then, just a few days ago as the bishops began arriving, they received a 31 page booklet of what is being referred to as Lambeth Calls. These are draft texts prepared for their up or down vote on mission and evangelism, safe church, Anglican identity, reconciliation, human dignity, the environment and sustainable development, Christian unity, interfaith relations, discipleship, and science and faith.  Sounds good, right.  But wait for it…

Included in one is a reaffirmation of something passed back in 1998 that declares homosexuality as incompatible with scripture.  And, it was wrapped up in a paragraph that one might be likely to support that calls for respecting human dignity, which includes a denouncement of colonialism, racism, and other forms of oppression. The bishops were given this instruction: “[F]or each decision there will be two choices for each bishop to make: [either] ‘This Call speaks for me. I add my voice to it and commit myself to take the action I can to implement it’ [or] ‘This Call requires further discernment. I commit my voice to the ongoing process.’” Which, as one bishop put it in a hilarious blog in which he denounces this absurdity, “is basically the choice between “Yes” and “Yes, but not yet.” Not exactly the essence of conversation. (See this link to his blog: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Letter-from-Europe–Lambeth-Stuff.html?soid=1117451462049&aid=460Dy4tC3Ls&fbclid=IwAR01HJz86a_qDnfjWB18q0X4fLoJNqRRrhsH-npjGNOacA-izasV9SxbqQo)

Look, we know that nothing done at Lambeth is binding on the Episcopal Church or any other province of our Anglican Communion, but conversation should be something that allows for the expression of the heart and mind of all participants, not just those with whom we agree.  The Rt. Rev. Eugene Sutton, an African-American and the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, put it this way about what is happening at Lambeth: “Ours is one of many provinces. We are in a minority position on the issue of human sexuality. I know what it means to be a minority. I make a plea to my brothers and sisters who have the majority position, ‘Let us be in the room…”

Let us be in the room – that is the via media, the middle way that we, the people of the Anglican Communion, have held as a core value.  We may not agree with one another – nor have we since our beginnings – but we are dedicated to the principal that we will come to the table and be a part of a conversation, and find our common ground in Jesus.

So, yes – we, the people of the Anglican branch of the Jesus movement – need to pray, and to be prayed for.  For while we have taken many strides forward in our common life in Jesus Christ to be the church that truly does respect the dignity of every human being, and all of God’s creation, we obviously have a lot more work to do.

And it is my fervent hope…no, it is my belief – that it is true, that “If one person is praying for you, buckle up. Things can happen.” 

And if thousands are praying – be prepared to have your world turned upside down. 

So folks… let’s pray early and often.

Amen.

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[1] https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/scripture/52_115.pdf

[2] Anne Lamott, Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers

The Rev. Diana L. Wilcox
Christ Church in Bloomfield & Glen Ridge
July 24, 2022
Seventh Sunday After Pentecost – Year C – Proper 12 – Track 1
1st Reading – Hosea 1:2-10
Psalm 85
2nd Reading – Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19)
Gospel – Luke 11:1-13