A mirror image

Luke 18:9-14

Most of you know I’ve been on retreat this week….benedictine monastery immersed in prayer and study of scripture and the RB.  I came across this quote in one of our resources:  we trust in the diagnostic power of scripture (Manuela Scheiba OSB)

Like a mirror,  we get a look at ourselves through these stories of Jesus

2 weeks ago we heard about the 2 simplest kinds of prayer—thank you and help!  Last week we heard about persistence in prayer, and today we listen in on two people praying—so I think we’re on a prayer theme!

Here we’re overhearing a Pharisee—faithfully devout person, known for his careful following of the religious rules….and a tax collector, a Jew who collaborates with the Roman authorities and is known for lying on the IRS tax forms so he can skim money off for himself

As I looked in the mirror of this text this week, here’s what I discovered about myself…..

Thank you God that I am not like some people I could name!—I don’t lie and cheat; I’m well off and white so can pretty much do what I like.  I’m not like those people I see on the streets, cos I’m capable and independent.  I do all the right things: I follow the rules, in fact go above and beyond,  I give generously,  I’m a good reflection of your law, and I’m doing pretty well.  Amen.

Then there’s the other image I see in the mirror:    God, forgive me.   Forgive me for the sin of arrogance, for the ignorance of privilege, for the greed of self prosperity.  Thank you for your grace, for touching my life with insight and forgiveness.  I humbly offer my brokenness to you.  Transform me, God, into a reflection of your compassionate love.  Amen.

Perhaps because I’ve had four days studying RB’s chapter on humility, I don’t think this really is a parable about prayer itself. The real issue is relationship.

Both characters are self-aware.  The Pharisee knows himself, did you notice all the “I”s?   He knows at least his behavioral actions, his external life, and does give a token nod to God.  But he stops there; he has not considered his attitude.

The Pharisee is kidding himself—living in an illusory state of ‘deceptive self-complacency’ (Scheira).  Doesn’t need God.  His “thank God” is more “you should be thanking me God for all I do for you”

The tax collector knows himself too, but inside out.  He’s not one of those self-abasing “what a worm I am” people, but he does know his inadequacies, faults and knows he’s a sinner—and that’s all he says……no need for anxious profiling or ambitious competition, he just  has things in his life that get between him and God.  You see, he is in fact in a relationship with the God he talks to, a relationship of mutual love, of  compassion….a relationship where he can simply unburden himself.  And sometimes me too.   And I pray Thank God!

So……this week, let’s look into the mirror of this text, watch for when we are the Pharisee who has lost the relationship with God and when are functioning as practical atheists.    Let’s watch too for when we need to sing praise like the psalmist or unburden like the tax collector,  to One who sees us as beloved, and yearns to be loved back.

an exploration of prayer (Theva)

An Exploration into prayer!

Luke18: 1-8.

Dear Friends, Every religion on the face of this earth has taught human kind to pray. The Hebrew meaning of the word prayer is “bending one’s knee”. We bend our knee to express reverence and respect for a presence. We bend our knee to look at ourselves and evaluate. “Search me O God and know my heart”. (Psalm 139) In bended knee we offer thanks to God “Taste and see that the Lord is good”. (Psalm 34) A Hindu devotee falls prostrate in the temple and prays to God for guidance. A Buddhist prays in a shrine following the chant of a monk. If you are a person of the Islamic faith you turn your face towards Mecca pray for five times a day. Whether you work in the office or sit in the living room, those five times of the day are set aside to think of the ground of all our being, in prayer. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount “Strive first for God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness and all these things will be given to you”. (Matt 6) What are these things? Or Let me ask it this way: Do I have to be a Christian to receive the basic things such as food clothing and shelter in life? If I am not receiving them then someone is not doing his or her job well. There must be some fraud and misuse with the public funds. Perhaps the grains and the meat and the vegetables are hoarded by the greedy. Is it true only the prayers of the Christians are answered? Can we still hold onto that ancient maxim: A family that prays together stays together? Are Christians happier and more contented than the people of other faiths or even persons who have no faith? Someone said that when you speak to God it is called prayer, and when God speaks to you it is called paranoia. Paul says(Romans 8) “we do not know how to pray unless the Holy Spirit intercedes for us” As a little child of five I remember the days of kneeling down for prayer on a mat made of Palmyra leaf. There were four of us, a father, a mother and a sister who is 14 years older than me and still living. This five year old boy still remembers a small altar in our living room and our praying twice a day around it. This five year old remembers seeing the scenic beauty of the morning as soon as the prayers were over. It was the time when the tropical sun would rise over the Indian Ocean at the background of the early morning sky of the orient. For the home of this 5year old was built in a country called Sri Lanka which is an island on the Indian Ocean. Our format of prayer was a collage of a song, a Psalm, a time of sharing and a prayer. It lasted for 30minutes.We prayed again during the sun set. Our home did not have electricity those days. When the prayer was over the lamps were lit and darkness dispelled. The following hymn made much sense for us on those days; “LEAD KINDLY LIGHT, AMID THE ENCIRCLING GLOOM, LEAD THOU ME ON.THE NIGHT IS DARK AND I AM FAR FROM HOME, LEAD THOU ME ON.KEEP THOU MY FEET, I DO NOT ASK TO SEE THE DISTANT SCENE, ONE STEP ENOUGH FOR ME.” By the way this was also the song which Gandhi used for his night time prayers every evening. I do not pray this way anymore.

       In the last several decades I have been exposed to many cultural revolutions, paradigms shifts, theological twists and turns. With the publication of the Secular City by Harvey Cox and   Honest to God by Bishop Robinson and with an emergence of a brand of theology called the “Death of God theology in the 6o’s, “my understanding of prayer has gone through a metamorphosis. I still believe fervently in prayer however I do not feel the need to defend God. A little child addressed her prayer to God and concluded it this way “Darling God please look after yourself for if you are lost we are sunk.” I find it difficult carry with me a big list to God for favors. In a cartoon a little boy is kneeling down in prayer, and underneath there is the following caption or the words: Aunt Harriet hasn’t got married, uncle Hubert does not have a job, Daddy’s hair is falling out and I am tired of praying for this family without getting any results.

       In today’s gospel Jesus said, in a city perhaps Capernaum or Cana; we don’t know. All we know is that there was a widow and also an unjust judge. This story is centered on these two characters. Perhaps the land lord was charging an exorbitant amount of money as rent from the widow. As I read the story I can hear the widow shouting at the top of her voice “GRANT ME JUSTICE”. She persistently begged the judge “treat me fairly against my opponent”. Even though the judge earned a reputation for being an unjust judge, the persistence of the widow moved him on the right direction. Her aggravation made the judge to study the case quickly about her dispute with the opponent. This is a story of a hard hearted and cruel judge having a heart changing experience. His verdict on the case was fair. And it was in support of the widow. This is a story to remind all of us, persistent in life does bring fair results. Jesus is talking here about persistent prayer. Now what is a persistent prayer? Can you picture the waves of the ocean which shape the beach? How about a bird looking for its first twig for the building of a nest? How about an ant carrying a grain of sand or a potter with a lump of clay in his hands working on a beautiful sculpture? How about a seed taking a few months for the process of germination in the soil or as you see in today’s power point a plant bursting out of a rock. How about a child learning the alphabets for the first time? How did Jesus pray? What comes to mind immediately is the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught us a wonderful model prayer in which, he called God “OUR FATHER”. (my dearest daddy) and it is as simple as that. And that is all we need to call for God’s attention on us. Then we pray “let your kingdom come” or perhaps “use us O God” to bring about peace and justice on this earth.

“Let your will be done”. In other words, Lord you know what is good and best for me and now help me get a sense of it. I can not change your mind God, but help me change mine. Our understanding of prayer is too cheap and shallow. We pile up all kinds of adjectives and descriptions to call God’s attention: Merciful God, the lover of humanity, God of grace, God of glory, Father God, Mother God, almighty God, Risen savior, First cause and unmoved mover. Jesus in a finger snap said “Hi Daddy”. How many nuances and descriptions do we need for God? I am often overwhelmed with all the liturgical components of prayer needed to get to God? Do we always need adoration, praise, confession, supplication, thanksgiving and intercession and many many more? How can we simplify prayer? And here is my closing quotation. It is not about prayer, but here are some good thoughts to ponder; thoughts of a well-known 18^th century German playwright and novelist, poet and a politician by the name Johann von Goethe: One ought every day at least hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if possible speak a few reasonable words”. Amen!

 An Exploration into prayer!

Luke18: 1-8.

Dear Friends, Every religion on the face of this earth has taught human kind to pray. The Hebrew meaning of the word prayer is “bending one’s knee”. We bend our knee to express reverence and respect for a presence. We bend our knee to look at ourselves and evaluate. “Search me O God and know my heart”. (Psalm 139) In bended knee we offer thanks to God “Taste and see that the Lord is good”. (Psalm 34) A Hindu devotee falls prostrate in the temple and prays to God for guidance. A Buddhist prays in a shrine following the chant of a monk. If you are a person of the Islamic faith you turn your face towards Mecca pray for five times a day. Whether you work in the office or sit in the living room, those five times of the day are set aside to think of the ground of all our being, in prayer. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount “Strive first for God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness and all these things will be given to you”. (Matt 6) What are these things? Or Let me ask it this way: Do I have to be a Christian to receive the basic things such as food clothing and shelter in life? If I am not receiving them then someone is not doing his or her job well. There must be some fraud and misuse with the public funds. Perhaps the grains and the meat and the vegetables are hoarded by the greedy. Is it true only the prayers of the Christians are answered? Can we still hold onto that ancient maxim: A family that prays together stays together? Are Christians happier and more contented than the people of other faiths or even persons who have no faith? Someone said that when you speak to God it is called prayer, and when God speaks to you it is called paranoia. Paul says(Romans 8) “we do not know how to pray unless the Holy Spirit intercedes for us” As a little child of five I remember the days of kneeling down for prayer on a mat made of Palmyra leaf. There were four of us, a father, a mother and a sister who is 14 years older than me and still living. This five year old boy still remembers a small altar in our living room and our praying twice a day around it. This five year old remembers seeing the scenic beauty of the morning as soon as the prayers were over. It was the time when the tropical sun would rise over the Indian Ocean at the background of the early morning sky of the orient. For the home of this 5year old was built in a country called Sri Lanka which is an island on the Indian Ocean. Our format of prayer was a collage of a song, a Psalm, a time of sharing and a prayer. It lasted for 30minutes.We prayed again during the sun set. Our home did not have electricity those days. When the prayer was over the lamps were lit and darkness dispelled. The following hymn made much sense for us on those days; “LEAD KINDLY LIGHT, AMID THE ENCIRCLING GLOOM, LEAD THOU ME ON.THE NIGHT IS DARK AND I AM FAR FROM HOME, LEAD THOU ME ON.KEEP THOU MY FEET, I DO NOT ASK TO SEE THE DISTANT SCENE, ONE STEP ENOUGH FOR ME.” By the way this was also the song which Gandhi used for his night time prayers every evening. I do not pray this way anymore.

       In the last several decades I have been exposed to many cultural revolutions, paradigms shifts, theological twists and turns. With the publication of the Secular City by Harvey Cox and   Honest to God by Bishop Robinson and with an emergence of a brand of theology called the “Death of God theology in the 6o’s, “my understanding of prayer has gone through a metamorphosis. I still believe fervently in prayer however I do not feel the need to defend God. A little child addressed her prayer to God and concluded it this way “Darling God please look after yourself for if you are lost we are sunk.” I find it difficult carry with me a big list to God for favors. In a cartoon a little boy is kneeling down in prayer, and underneath there is the following caption or the words: Aunt Harriet hasn’t got married, uncle Hubert does not have a job, Daddy’s hair is falling out and I am tired of praying for this family without getting any results.

       In today’s gospel Jesus said, in a city perhaps Capernaum or Cana; we don’t know. All we know is that there was a widow and also an unjust judge. This story is centered on these two characters. Perhaps the land lord was charging an exorbitant amount of money as rent from the widow. As I read the story I can hear the widow shouting at the top of her voice “GRANT ME JUSTICE”. She persistently begged the judge “treat me fairly against my opponent”. Even though the judge earned a reputation for being an unjust judge, the persistence of the widow moved him on the right direction. Her aggravation made the judge to study the case quickly about her dispute with the opponent. This is a story of a hard hearted and cruel judge having a heart changing experience. His verdict on the case was fair. And it was in support of the widow. This is a story to remind all of us, persistent in life does bring fair results. Jesus is talking here about persistent prayer. Now what is a persistent prayer? Can you picture the waves of the ocean which shape the beach? How about a bird looking for its first twig for the building of a nest? How about an ant carrying a grain of sand or a potter with a lump of clay in his hands working on a beautiful sculpture? How about a seed taking a few months for the process of germination in the soil or as you see in today’s power point a plant bursting out of a rock. How about a child learning the alphabets for the first time? How did Jesus pray? What comes to mind immediately is the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught us a wonderful model prayer in which, he called God “OUR FATHER”. (my dearest daddy) and it is as simple as that. And that is all we need to call for God’s attention on us. Then we pray “let your kingdom come” or perhaps “use us O God” to bring about peace and justice on this earth.

“Let your will be done”. In other words, Lord you know what is good and best for me and now help me get a sense of it. I can not change your mind God, but help me change mine. Our understanding of prayer is too cheap and shallow. We pile up all kinds of adjectives and descriptions to call God’s attention: Merciful God, the lover of humanity, God of grace, God of glory, Father God, Mother God, almighty God, Risen savior, First cause and unmoved mover. Jesus in a finger snap said “Hi Daddy”. How many nuances and descriptions do we need for God? I am often overwhelmed with all the liturgical components of prayer needed to get to God? Do we always need adoration, praise, confession, supplication, thanksgiving and intercession and many many more? How can we simplify prayer? And here is my closing quotation. It is not about prayer, but here are some good thoughts to ponder; thoughts of a well-known 18^th century German playwright and novelist, poet and a politician by the name Johann von Goethe: One ought every day at least hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if possible speak a few reasonable words”. Amen!

 An Exploration into prayer!

Luke18: 1-8.

Dear Friends, Every religion on the face of this earth has taught human kind to pray. The Hebrew meaning of the word prayer is “bending one’s knee”. We bend our knee to express reverence and respect for a presence. We bend our knee to look at ourselves and evaluate. “Search me O God and know my heart”. (Psalm 139) In bended knee we offer thanks to God “Taste and see that the Lord is good”. (Psalm 34) A Hindu devotee falls prostrate in the temple and prays to God for guidance. A Buddhist prays in a shrine following the chant of a monk. If you are a person of the Islamic faith you turn your face towards Mecca pray for five times a day. Whether you work in the office or sit in the living room, those five times of the day are set aside to think of the ground of all our being, in prayer. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount “Strive first for God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness and all these things will be given to you”. (Matt 6) What are these things? Or Let me ask it this way: Do I have to be a Christian to receive the basic things such as food clothing and shelter in life? If I am not receiving them then someone is not doing his or her job well. There must be some fraud and misuse with the public funds. Perhaps the grains and the meat and the vegetables are hoarded by the greedy. Is it true only the prayers of the Christians are answered? Can we still hold onto that ancient maxim: A family that prays together stays together? Are Christians happier and more contented than the people of other faiths or even persons who have no faith? Someone said that when you speak to God it is called prayer, and when God speaks to you it is called paranoia. Paul says(Romans 8) “we do not know how to pray unless the Holy Spirit intercedes for us” As a little child of five I remember the days of kneeling down for prayer on a mat made of Palmyra leaf. There were four of us, a father, a mother and a sister who is 14 years older than me and still living. This five year old boy still remembers a small altar in our living room and our praying twice a day around it. This five year old remembers seeing the scenic beauty of the morning as soon as the prayers were over. It was the time when the tropical sun would rise over the Indian Ocean at the background of the early morning sky of the orient. For the home of this 5year old was built in a country called Sri Lanka which is an island on the Indian Ocean. Our format of prayer was a collage of a song, a Psalm, a time of sharing and a prayer. It lasted for 30minutes.We prayed again during the sun set. Our home did not have electricity those days. When the prayer was over the lamps were lit and darkness dispelled. The following hymn made much sense for us on those days; “LEAD KINDLY LIGHT, AMID THE ENCIRCLING GLOOM, LEAD THOU ME ON.THE NIGHT IS DARK AND I AM FAR FROM HOME, LEAD THOU ME ON.KEEP THOU MY FEET, I DO NOT ASK TO SEE THE DISTANT SCENE, ONE STEP ENOUGH FOR ME.” By the way this was also the song which Gandhi used for his night time prayers every evening. I do not pray this way anymore.

       In the last several decades I have been exposed to many cultural revolutions, paradigms shifts, theological twists and turns. With the publication of the Secular City by Harvey Cox and   Honest to God by Bishop Robinson and with an emergence of a brand of theology called the “Death of God theology in the 6o’s, “my understanding of prayer has gone through a metamorphosis. I still believe fervently in prayer however I do not feel the need to defend God. A little child addressed her prayer to God and concluded it this way “Darling God please look after yourself for if you are lost we are sunk.” I find it difficult carry with me a big list to God for favors. In a cartoon a little boy is kneeling down in prayer, and underneath there is the following caption or the words: Aunt Harriet hasn’t got married, uncle Hubert does not have a job, Daddy’s hair is falling out and I am tired of praying for this family without getting any results.

       In today’s gospel Jesus said, in a city perhaps Capernaum or Cana; we don’t know. All we know is that there was a widow and also an unjust judge. This story is centered on these two characters. Perhaps the land lord was charging an exorbitant amount of money as rent from the widow. As I read the story I can hear the widow shouting at the top of her voice “GRANT ME JUSTICE”. She persistently begged the judge “treat me fairly against my opponent”. Even though the judge earned a reputation for being an unjust judge, the persistence of the widow moved him on the right direction. Her aggravation made the judge to study the case quickly about her dispute with the opponent. This is a story of a hard hearted and cruel judge having a heart changing experience. His verdict on the case was fair. And it was in support of the widow. This is a story to remind all of us, persistent in life does bring fair results. Jesus is talking here about persistent prayer. Now what is a persistent prayer? Can you picture the waves of the ocean which shape the beach? How about a bird looking for its first twig for the building of a nest? How about an ant carrying a grain of sand or a potter with a lump of clay in his hands working on a beautiful sculpture? How about a seed taking a few months for the process of germination in the soil or as you see in today’s power point a plant bursting out of a rock. How about a child learning the alphabets for the first time? How did Jesus pray? What comes to mind immediately is the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught us a wonderful model prayer in which, he called God “OUR FATHER”. (my dearest daddy) and it is as simple as that. And that is all we need to call for God’s attention on us. Then we pray “let your kingdom come” or perhaps “use us O God” to bring about peace and justice on this earth.

“Let your will be done”. In other words, Lord you know what is good and best for me and now help me get a sense of it. I can not change your mind God, but help me change mine. Our understanding of prayer is too cheap and shallow. We pile up all kinds of adjectives and descriptions to call God’s attention: Merciful God, the lover of humanity, God of grace, God of glory, Father God, Mother God, almighty God, Risen savior, First cause and unmoved mover. Jesus in a finger snap said “Hi Daddy”. How many nuances and descriptions do we need for God? I am often overwhelmed with all the liturgical components of prayer needed to get to God? Do we always need adoration, praise, confession, supplication, thanksgiving and intercession and many many more? How can we simplify prayer? And here is my closing quotation. It is not about prayer, but here are some good thoughts to ponder; thoughts of a well-known 18^th century German playwright and novelist, poet and a politician by the name Johann von Goethe: One ought every day at least hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if possible speak a few reasonable words”. Amen!

 An Exploration into prayer!

Luke18: 1-8.

Dear Friends, Every religion on the face of this earth has taught human kind to pray. The Hebrew meaning of the word prayer is “bending one’s knee”. We bend our knee to express reverence and respect for a presence. We bend our knee to look at ourselves and evaluate. “Search me O God and know my heart”. (Psalm 139) In bended knee we offer thanks to God “Taste and see that the Lord is good”. (Psalm 34) A Hindu devotee falls prostrate in the temple and prays to God for guidance. A Buddhist prays in a shrine following the chant of a monk. If you are a person of the Islamic faith you turn your face towards Mecca pray for five times a day. Whether you work in the office or sit in the living room, those five times of the day are set aside to think of the ground of all our being, in prayer. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount “Strive first for God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness and all these things will be given to you”. (Matt 6) What are these things? Or Let me ask it this way: Do I have to be a Christian to receive the basic things such as food clothing and shelter in life? If I am not receiving them then someone is not doing his or her job well. There must be some fraud and misuse with the public funds. Perhaps the grains and the meat and the vegetables are hoarded by the greedy. Is it true only the prayers of the Christians are answered? Can we still hold onto that ancient maxim: A family that prays together stays together? Are Christians happier and more contented than the people of other faiths or even persons who have no faith? Someone said that when you speak to God it is called prayer, and when God speaks to you it is called paranoia. Paul says(Romans 8) “we do not know how to pray unless the Holy Spirit intercedes for us” As a little child of five I remember the days of kneeling down for prayer on a mat made of Palmyra leaf. There were four of us, a father, a mother and a sister who is 14 years older than me and still living. This five year old boy still remembers a small altar in our living room and our praying twice a day around it. This five year old remembers seeing the scenic beauty of the morning as soon as the prayers were over. It was the time when the tropical sun would rise over the Indian Ocean at the background of the early morning sky of the orient. For the home of this 5year old was built in a country called Sri Lanka which is an island on the Indian Ocean. Our format of prayer was a collage of a song, a Psalm, a time of sharing and a prayer. It lasted for 30minutes.We prayed again during the sun set. Our home did not have electricity those days. When the prayer was over the lamps were lit and darkness dispelled. The following hymn made much sense for us on those days; “LEAD KINDLY LIGHT, AMID THE ENCIRCLING GLOOM, LEAD THOU ME ON.THE NIGHT IS DARK AND I AM FAR FROM HOME, LEAD THOU ME ON.KEEP THOU MY FEET, I DO NOT ASK TO SEE THE DISTANT SCENE, ONE STEP ENOUGH FOR ME.” By the way this was also the song which Gandhi used for his night time prayers every evening. I do not pray this way anymore.

       In the last several decades I have been exposed to many cultural revolutions, paradigms shifts, theological twists and turns. With the publication of the Secular City by Harvey Cox and   Honest to God by Bishop Robinson and with an emergence of a brand of theology called the “Death of God theology in the 6o’s, “my understanding of prayer has gone through a metamorphosis. I still believe fervently in prayer however I do not feel the need to defend God. A little child addressed her prayer to God and concluded it this way “Darling God please look after yourself for if you are lost we are sunk.” I find it difficult carry with me a big list to God for favors. In a cartoon a little boy is kneeling down in prayer, and underneath there is the following caption or the words: Aunt Harriet hasn’t got married, uncle Hubert does not have a job, Daddy’s hair is falling out and I am tired of praying for this family without getting any results.

       In today’s gospel Jesus said, in a city perhaps Capernaum or Cana; we don’t know. All we know is that there was a widow and also an unjust judge. This story is centered on these two characters. Perhaps the land lord was charging an exorbitant amount of money as rent from the widow. As I read the story I can hear the widow shouting at the top of her voice “GRANT ME JUSTICE”. She persistently begged the judge “treat me fairly against my opponent”. Even though the judge earned a reputation for being an unjust judge, the persistence of the widow moved him on the right direction. Her aggravation made the judge to study the case quickly about her dispute with the opponent. This is a story of a hard hearted and cruel judge having a heart changing experience. His verdict on the case was fair. And it was in support of the widow. This is a story to remind all of us, persistent in life does bring fair results. Jesus is talking here about persistent prayer. Now what is a persistent prayer? Can you picture the waves of the ocean which shape the beach? How about a bird looking for its first twig for the building of a nest? How about an ant carrying a grain of sand or a potter with a lump of clay in his hands working on a beautiful sculpture? How about a seed taking a few months for the process of germination in the soil or as you see in today’s power point a plant bursting out of a rock. How about a child learning the alphabets for the first time? How did Jesus pray? What comes to mind immediately is the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught us a wonderful model prayer in which, he called God “OUR FATHER”. (my dearest daddy) and it is as simple as that. And that is all we need to call for God’s attention on us. Then we pray “let your kingdom come” or perhaps “use us O God” to bring about peace and justice on this earth.

“Let your will be done”. In other words, Lord you know what is good and best for me and now help me get a sense of it. I can not change your mind God, but help me change mine. Our understanding of prayer is too cheap and shallow. We pile up all kinds of adjectives and descriptions to call God’s attention: Merciful God, the lover of humanity, God of grace, God of glory, Father God, Mother God, almighty God, Risen savior, First cause and unmoved mover. Jesus in a finger snap said “Hi Daddy”. How many nuances and descriptions do we need for God? I am often overwhelmed with all the liturgical components of prayer needed to get to God? Do we always need adoration, praise, confession, supplication, thanksgiving and intercession and many many more? How can we simplify prayer? And here is my closing quotation. It is not about prayer, but here are some good thoughts to ponder; thoughts of a well-known 18^th century German playwright and novelist, poet and a politician by the name Johann von Goethe: One ought every day at least hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if possible speak a few reasonable words”. Amen!

 An Exploration into prayer!

Luke18: 1-8.

Dear Friends, Every religion on the face of this earth has taught human kind to pray. The Hebrew meaning of the word prayer is “bending one’s knee”. We bend our knee to express reverence and respect for a presence. We bend our knee to look at ourselves and evaluate. “Search me O God and know my heart”. (Psalm 139) In bended knee we offer thanks to God “Taste and see that the Lord is good”. (Psalm 34) A Hindu devotee falls prostrate in the temple and prays to God for guidance. A Buddhist prays in a shrine following the chant of a monk. If you are a person of the Islamic faith you turn your face towards Mecca pray for five times a day. Whether you work in the office or sit in the living room, those five times of the day are set aside to think of the ground of all our being, in prayer. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount “Strive first for God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness and all these things will be given to you”. (Matt 6) What are these things? Or Let me ask it this way: Do I have to be a Christian to receive the basic things such as food clothing and shelter in life? If I am not receiving them then someone is not doing his or her job well. There must be some fraud and misuse with the public funds. Perhaps the grains and the meat and the vegetables are hoarded by the greedy. Is it true only the prayers of the Christians are answered? Can we still hold onto that ancient maxim: A family that prays together stays together? Are Christians happier and more contented than the people of other faiths or even persons who have no faith? Someone said that when you speak to God it is called prayer, and when God speaks to you it is called paranoia. Paul says(Romans 8) “we do not know how to pray unless the Holy Spirit intercedes for us” As a little child of five I remember the days of kneeling down for prayer on a mat made of Palmyra leaf. There were four of us, a father, a mother and a sister who is 14 years older than me and still living. This five year old boy still remembers a small altar in our living room and our praying twice a day around it. This five year old remembers seeing the scenic beauty of the morning as soon as the prayers were over. It was the time when the tropical sun would rise over the Indian Ocean at the background of the early morning sky of the orient. For the home of this 5year old was built in a country called Sri Lanka which is an island on the Indian Ocean. Our format of prayer was a collage of a song, a Psalm, a time of sharing and a prayer. It lasted for 30minutes.We prayed again during the sun set. Our home did not have electricity those days. When the prayer was over the lamps were lit and darkness dispelled. The following hymn made much sense for us on those days; “LEAD KINDLY LIGHT, AMID THE ENCIRCLING GLOOM, LEAD THOU ME ON.THE NIGHT IS DARK AND I AM FAR FROM HOME, LEAD THOU ME ON.KEEP THOU MY FEET, I DO NOT ASK TO SEE THE DISTANT SCENE, ONE STEP ENOUGH FOR ME.” By the way this was also the song which Gandhi used for his night time prayers every evening. I do not pray this way anymore.

       In the last several decades I have been exposed to many cultural revolutions, paradigms shifts, theological twists and turns. With the publication of the Secular City by Harvey Cox and   Honest to God by Bishop Robinson and with an emergence of a brand of theology called the “Death of God theology in the 6o’s, “my understanding of prayer has gone through a metamorphosis. I still believe fervently in prayer however I do not feel the need to defend God. A little child addressed her prayer to God and concluded it this way “Darling God please look after yourself for if you are lost we are sunk.” I find it difficult carry with me a big list to God for favors. In a cartoon a little boy is kneeling down in prayer, and underneath there is the following caption or the words: Aunt Harriet hasn’t got married, uncle Hubert does not have a job, Daddy’s hair is falling out and I am tired of praying for this family without getting any results.

       In today’s gospel Jesus said, in a city perhaps Capernaum or Cana; we don’t know. All we know is that there was a widow and also an unjust judge. This story is centered on these two characters. Perhaps the land lord was charging an exorbitant amount of money as rent from the widow. As I read the story I can hear the widow shouting at the top of her voice “GRANT ME JUSTICE”. She persistently begged the judge “treat me fairly against my opponent”. Even though the judge earned a reputation for being an unjust judge, the persistence of the widow moved him on the right direction. Her aggravation made the judge to study the case quickly about her dispute with the opponent. This is a story of a hard hearted and cruel judge having a heart changing experience. His verdict on the case was fair. And it was in support of the widow. This is a story to remind all of us, persistent in life does bring fair results. Jesus is talking here about persistent prayer. Now what is a persistent prayer? Can you picture the waves of the ocean which shape the beach? How about a bird looking for its first twig for the building of a nest? How about an ant carrying a grain of sand or a potter with a lump of clay in his hands working on a beautiful sculpture? How about a seed taking a few months for the process of germination in the soil or as you see in today’s power point a plant bursting out of a rock. How about a child learning the alphabets for the first time? How did Jesus pray? What comes to mind immediately is the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught us a wonderful model prayer in which, he called God “OUR FATHER”. (my dearest daddy) and it is as simple as that. And that is all we need to call for God’s attention on us. Then we pray “let your kingdom come” or perhaps “use us O God” to bring about peace and justice on this earth.

“Let your will be done”. In other words, Lord you know what is good and best for me and now help me get a sense of it. I can not change your mind God, but help me change mine. Our understanding of prayer is too cheap and shallow. We pile up all kinds of adjectives and descriptions to call God’s attention: Merciful God, the lover of humanity, God of grace, God of glory, Father God, Mother God, almighty God, Risen savior, First cause and unmoved mover. Jesus in a finger snap said “Hi Daddy”. How many nuances and descriptions do we need for God? I am often overwhelmed with all the liturgical components of prayer needed to get to God? Do we always need adoration, praise, confession, supplication, thanksgiving and intercession and many many more? How can we simplify prayer? And here is my closing quotation. It is not about prayer, but here are some good thoughts to ponder; thoughts of a well-known 18^th century German playwright and novelist, poet and a politician by the name Johann von Goethe: One ought every day at least hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if possible speak a few reasonable words”. Amen!

 An Exploration into prayer!

Luke18: 1-8.

Dear Friends, Every religion on the face of this earth has taught human kind to pray. The Hebrew meaning of the word prayer is “bending one’s knee”. We bend our knee to express reverence and respect for a presence. We bend our knee to look at ourselves and evaluate. “Search me O God and know my heart”. (Psalm 139) In bended knee we offer thanks to God “Taste and see that the Lord is good”. (Psalm 34) A Hindu devotee falls prostrate in the temple and prays to God for guidance. A Buddhist prays in a shrine following the chant of a monk. If you are a person of the Islamic faith you turn your face towards Mecca pray for five times a day. Whether you work in the office or sit in the living room, those five times of the day are set aside to think of the ground of all our being, in prayer. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount “Strive first for God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness and all these things will be given to you”. (Matt 6) What are these things? Or Let me ask it this way: Do I have to be a Christian to receive the basic things such as food clothing and shelter in life? If I am not receiving them then someone is not doing his or her job well. There must be some fraud and misuse with the public funds. Perhaps the grains and the meat and the vegetables are hoarded by the greedy. Is it true only the prayers of the Christians are answered? Can we still hold onto that ancient maxim: A family that prays together stays together? Are Christians happier and more contented than the people of other faiths or even persons who have no faith? Someone said that when you speak to God it is called prayer, and when God speaks to you it is called paranoia. Paul says(Romans 8) “we do not know how to pray unless the Holy Spirit intercedes for us” As a little child of five I remember the days of kneeling down for prayer on a mat made of Palmyra leaf. There were four of us, a father, a mother and a sister who is 14 years older than me and still living. This five year old boy still remembers a small altar in our living room and our praying twice a day around it. This five year old remembers seeing the scenic beauty of the morning as soon as the prayers were over. It was the time when the tropical sun would rise over the Indian Ocean at the background of the early morning sky of the orient. For the home of this 5year old was built in a country called Sri Lanka which is an island on the Indian Ocean. Our format of prayer was a collage of a song, a Psalm, a time of sharing and a prayer. It lasted for 30minutes.We prayed again during the sun set. Our home did not have electricity those days. When the prayer was over the lamps were lit and darkness dispelled. The following hymn made much sense for us on those days; “LEAD KINDLY LIGHT, AMID THE ENCIRCLING GLOOM, LEAD THOU ME ON.THE NIGHT IS DARK AND I AM FAR FROM HOME, LEAD THOU ME ON.KEEP THOU MY FEET, I DO NOT ASK TO SEE THE DISTANT SCENE, ONE STEP ENOUGH FOR ME.” By the way this was also the song which Gandhi used for his night time prayers every evening. I do not pray this way anymore.

       In the last several decades I have been exposed to many cultural revolutions, paradigms shifts, theological twists and turns. With the publication of the Secular City by Harvey Cox and   Honest to God by Bishop Robinson and with an emergence of a brand of theology called the “Death of God theology in the 6o’s, “my understanding of prayer has gone through a metamorphosis. I still believe fervently in prayer however I do not feel the need to defend God. A little child addressed her prayer to God and concluded it this way “Darling God please look after yourself for if you are lost we are sunk.” I find it difficult carry with me a big list to God for favors. In a cartoon a little boy is kneeling down in prayer, and underneath there is the following caption or the words: Aunt Harriet hasn’t got married, uncle Hubert does not have a job, Daddy’s hair is falling out and I am tired of praying for this family without getting any results.

       In today’s gospel Jesus said, in a city perhaps Capernaum or Cana; we don’t know. All we know is that there was a widow and also an unjust judge. This story is centered on these two characters. Perhaps the land lord was charging an exorbitant amount of money as rent from the widow. As I read the story I can hear the widow shouting at the top of her voice “GRANT ME JUSTICE”. She persistently begged the judge “treat me fairly against my opponent”. Even though the judge earned a reputation for being an unjust judge, the persistence of the widow moved him on the right direction. Her aggravation made the judge to study the case quickly about her dispute with the opponent. This is a story of a hard hearted and cruel judge having a heart changing experience. His verdict on the case was fair. And it was in support of the widow. This is a story to remind all of us, persistent in life does bring fair results. Jesus is talking here about persistent prayer. Now what is a persistent prayer? Can you picture the waves of the ocean which shape the beach? How about a bird looking for its first twig for the building of a nest? How about an ant carrying a grain of sand or a potter with a lump of clay in his hands working on a beautiful sculpture? How about a seed taking a few months for the process of germination in the soil or as you see in today’s power point a plant bursting out of a rock. How about a child learning the alphabets for the first time? How did Jesus pray? What comes to mind immediately is the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught us a wonderful model prayer in which, he called God “OUR FATHER”. (my dearest daddy) and it is as simple as that. And that is all we need to call for God’s attention on us. Then we pray “let your kingdom come” or perhaps “use us O God” to bring about peace and justice on this earth.

“Let your will be done”. In other words, Lord you know what is good and best for me and now help me get a sense of it. I can not change your mind God, but help me change mine. Our understanding of prayer is too cheap and shallow. We pile up all kinds of adjectives and descriptions to call God’s attention: Merciful God, the lover of humanity, God of grace, God of glory, Father God, Mother God, almighty God, Risen savior, First cause and unmoved mover. Jesus in a finger snap said “Hi Daddy”. How many nuances and descriptions do we need for God? I am often overwhelmed with all the liturgical components of prayer needed to get to God? Do we always need adoration, praise, confession, supplication, thanksgiving and intercession and many many more? How can we simplify prayer? And here is my closing quotation. It is not about prayer, but here are some good thoughts to ponder; thoughts of a well-known 18^th century German playwright and novelist, poet and a politician by the name Johann von Goethe: One ought every day at least hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if possible speak a few reasonable words”. Amen!

 An Exploration into prayer!

Luke18: 1-8.

Dear Friends, Every religion on the face of this earth has taught human kind to pray. The Hebrew meaning of the word prayer is “bending one’s knee”. We bend our knee to express reverence and respect for a presence. We bend our knee to look at ourselves and evaluate. “Search me O God and know my heart”. (Psalm 139) In bended knee we offer thanks to God “Taste and see that the Lord is good”. (Psalm 34) A Hindu devotee falls prostrate in the temple and prays to God for guidance. A Buddhist prays in a shrine following the chant of a monk. If you are a person of the Islamic faith you turn your face towards Mecca pray for five times a day. Whether you work in the office or sit in the living room, those five times of the day are set aside to think of the ground of all our being, in prayer. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount “Strive first for God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness and all these things will be given to you”. (Matt 6) What are these things? Or Let me ask it this way: Do I have to be a Christian to receive the basic things such as food clothing and shelter in life? If I am not receiving them then someone is not doing his or her job well. There must be some fraud and misuse with the public funds. Perhaps the grains and the meat and the vegetables are hoarded by the greedy. Is it true only the prayers of the Christians are answered? Can we still hold onto that ancient maxim: A family that prays together stays together? Are Christians happier and more contented than the people of other faiths or even persons who have no faith? Someone said that when you speak to God it is called prayer, and when God speaks to you it is called paranoia. Paul says(Romans 8) “we do not know how to pray unless the Holy Spirit intercedes for us” As a little child of five I remember the days of kneeling down for prayer on a mat made of Palmyra leaf. There were four of us, a father, a mother and a sister who is 14 years older than me and still living. This five year old boy still remembers a small altar in our living room and our praying twice a day around it. This five year old remembers seeing the scenic beauty of the morning as soon as the prayers were over. It was the time when the tropical sun would rise over the Indian Ocean at the background of the early morning sky of the orient. For the home of this 5year old was built in a country called Sri Lanka which is an island on the Indian Ocean. Our format of prayer was a collage of a song, a Psalm, a time of sharing and a prayer. It lasted for 30minutes.We prayed again during the sun set. Our home did not have electricity those days. When the prayer was over the lamps were lit and darkness dispelled. The following hymn made much sense for us on those days; “LEAD KINDLY LIGHT, AMID THE ENCIRCLING GLOOM, LEAD THOU ME ON.THE NIGHT IS DARK AND I AM FAR FROM HOME, LEAD THOU ME ON.KEEP THOU MY FEET, I DO NOT ASK TO SEE THE DISTANT SCENE, ONE STEP ENOUGH FOR ME.” By the way this was also the song which Gandhi used for his night time prayers every evening. I do not pray this way anymore.

       In the last several decades I have been exposed to many cultural revolutions, paradigms shifts, theological twists and turns. With the publication of the Secular City by Harvey Cox and   Honest to God by Bishop Robinson and with an emergence of a brand of theology called the “Death of God theology in the 6o’s, “my understanding of prayer has gone through a metamorphosis. I still believe fervently in prayer however I do not feel the need to defend God. A little child addressed her prayer to God and concluded it this way “Darling God please look after yourself for if you are lost we are sunk.” I find it difficult carry with me a big list to God for favors. In a cartoon a little boy is kneeling down in prayer, and underneath there is the following caption or the words: Aunt Harriet hasn’t got married, uncle Hubert does not have a job, Daddy’s hair is falling out and I am tired of praying for this family without getting any results.

       In today’s gospel Jesus said, in a city perhaps Capernaum or Cana; we don’t know. All we know is that there was a widow and also an unjust judge. This story is centered on these two characters. Perhaps the land lord was charging an exorbitant amount of money as rent from the widow. As I read the story I can hear the widow shouting at the top of her voice “GRANT ME JUSTICE”. She persistently begged the judge “treat me fairly against my opponent”. Even though the judge earned a reputation for being an unjust judge, the persistence of the widow moved him on the right direction. Her aggravation made the judge to study the case quickly about her dispute with the opponent. This is a story of a hard hearted and cruel judge having a heart changing experience. His verdict on the case was fair. And it was in support of the widow. This is a story to remind all of us, persistent in life does bring fair results. Jesus is talking here about persistent prayer. Now what is a persistent prayer? Can you picture the waves of the ocean which shape the beach? How about a bird looking for its first twig for the building of a nest? How about an ant carrying a grain of sand or a potter with a lump of clay in his hands working on a beautiful sculpture? How about a seed taking a few months for the process of germination in the soil or as you see in today’s power point a plant bursting out of a rock. How about a child learning the alphabets for the first time? How did Jesus pray? What comes to mind immediately is the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught us a wonderful model prayer in which, he called God “OUR FATHER”. (my dearest daddy) and it is as simple as that. And that is all we need to call for God’s attention on us. Then we pray “let your kingdom come” or perhaps “use us O God” to bring about peace and justice on this earth.

“Let your will be done”. In other words, Lord you know what is good and best for me and now help me get a sense of it. I can not change your mind God, but help me change mine. Our understanding of prayer is too cheap and shallow. We pile up all kinds of adjectives and descriptions to call God’s attention: Merciful God, the lover of humanity, God of grace, God of glory, Father God, Mother God, almighty God, Risen savior, First cause and unmoved mover. Jesus in a finger snap said “Hi Daddy”. How many nuances and descriptions do we need for God? I am often overwhelmed with all the liturgical components of prayer needed to get to God? Do we always need adoration, praise, confession, supplication, thanksgiving and intercession and many many more? How can we simplify prayer? And here is my closing quotation. It is not about prayer, but here are some good thoughts to ponder; thoughts of a well-known 18^th century German playwright and novelist, poet and a politician by the name Johann von Goethe: One ought every day at least hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if possible speak a few reasonable words”. Amen!

 An Exploration into prayer!

Luke18: 1-8.

Dear Friends, Every religion on the face of this earth has taught human kind to pray. The Hebrew meaning of the word prayer is “bending one’s knee”. We bend our knee to express reverence and respect for a presence. We bend our knee to look at ourselves and evaluate. “Search me O God and know my heart”. (Psalm 139) In bended knee we offer thanks to God “Taste and see that the Lord is good”. (Psalm 34) A Hindu devotee falls prostrate in the temple and prays to God for guidance. A Buddhist prays in a shrine following the chant of a monk. If you are a person of the Islamic faith you turn your face towards Mecca pray for five times a day. Whether you work in the office or sit in the living room, those five times of the day are set aside to think of the ground of all our being, in prayer. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount “Strive first for God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness and all these things will be given to you”. (Matt 6) What are these things? Or Let me ask it this way: Do I have to be a Christian to receive the basic things such as food clothing and shelter in life? If I am not receiving them then someone is not doing his or her job well. There must be some fraud and misuse with the public funds. Perhaps the grains and the meat and the vegetables are hoarded by the greedy. Is it true only the prayers of the Christians are answered? Can we still hold onto that ancient maxim: A family that prays together stays together? Are Christians happier and more contented than the people of other faiths or even persons who have no faith? Someone said that when you speak to God it is called prayer, and when God speaks to you it is called paranoia. Paul says(Romans 8) “we do not know how to pray unless the Holy Spirit intercedes for us” As a little child of five I remember the days of kneeling down for prayer on a mat made of Palmyra leaf. There were four of us, a father, a mother and a sister who is 14 years older than me and still living. This five year old boy still remembers a small altar in our living room and our praying twice a day around it. This five year old remembers seeing the scenic beauty of the morning as soon as the prayers were over. It was the time when the tropical sun would rise over the Indian Ocean at the background of the early morning sky of the orient. For the home of this 5year old was built in a country called Sri Lanka which is an island on the Indian Ocean. Our format of prayer was a collage of a song, a Psalm, a time of sharing and a prayer. It lasted for 30minutes.We prayed again during the sun set. Our home did not have electricity those days. When the prayer was over the lamps were lit and darkness dispelled. The following hymn made much sense for us on those days; “LEAD KINDLY LIGHT, AMID THE ENCIRCLING GLOOM, LEAD THOU ME ON.THE NIGHT IS DARK AND I AM FAR FROM HOME, LEAD THOU ME ON.KEEP THOU MY FEET, I DO NOT ASK TO SEE THE DISTANT SCENE, ONE STEP ENOUGH FOR ME.” By the way this was also the song which Gandhi used for his night time prayers every evening. I do not pray this way anymore.

       In the last several decades I have been exposed to many cultural revolutions, paradigms shifts, theological twists and turns. With the publication of the Secular City by Harvey Cox and   Honest to God by Bishop Robinson and with an emergence of a brand of theology called the “Death of God theology in the 6o’s, “my understanding of prayer has gone through a metamorphosis. I still believe fervently in prayer however I do not feel the need to defend God. A little child addressed her prayer to God and concluded it this way “Darling God please look after yourself for if you are lost we are sunk.” I find it difficult carry with me a big list to God for favors. In a cartoon a little boy is kneeling down in prayer, and underneath there is the following caption or the words: Aunt Harriet hasn’t got married, uncle Hubert does not have a job, Daddy’s hair is falling out and I am tired of praying for this family without getting any results.

       In today’s gospel Jesus said, in a city perhaps Capernaum or Cana; we don’t know. All we know is that there was a widow and also an unjust judge. This story is centered on these two characters. Perhaps the land lord was charging an exorbitant amount of money as rent from the widow. As I read the story I can hear the widow shouting at the top of her voice “GRANT ME JUSTICE”. She persistently begged the judge “treat me fairly against my opponent”. Even though the judge earned a reputation for being an unjust judge, the persistence of the widow moved him on the right direction. Her aggravation made the judge to study the case quickly about her dispute with the opponent. This is a story of a hard hearted and cruel judge having a heart changing experience. His verdict on the case was fair. And it was in support of the widow. This is a story to remind all of us, persistent in life does bring fair results. Jesus is talking here about persistent prayer. Now what is a persistent prayer? Can you picture the waves of the ocean which shape the beach? How about a bird looking for its first twig for the building of a nest? How about an ant carrying a grain of sand or a potter with a lump of clay in his hands working on a beautiful sculpture? How about a seed taking a few months for the process of germination in the soil or as you see in today’s power point a plant bursting out of a rock. How about a child learning the alphabets for the first time? How did Jesus pray? What comes to mind immediately is the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught us a wonderful model prayer in which, he called God “OUR FATHER”. (my dearest daddy) and it is as simple as that. And that is all we need to call for God’s attention on us. Then we pray “let your kingdom come” or perhaps “use us O God” to bring about peace and justice on this earth.

“Let your will be done”. In other words, Lord you know what is good and best for me and now help me get a sense of it. I can not change your mind God, but help me change mine. Our understanding of prayer is too cheap and shallow. We pile up all kinds of adjectives and descriptions to call God’s attention: Merciful God, the lover of humanity, God of grace, God of glory, Father God, Mother God, almighty God, Risen savior, First cause and unmoved mover. Jesus in a finger snap said “Hi Daddy”. How many nuances and descriptions do we need for God? I am often overwhelmed with all the liturgical components of prayer needed to get to God? Do we always need adoration, praise, confession, supplication, thanksgiving and intercession and many many more? How can we simplify prayer? And here is my closing quotation. It is not about prayer, but here are some good thoughts to ponder; thoughts of a well-known 18^th century German playwright and novelist, poet and a politician by the name Johann von Goethe: One ought every day at least hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if possible speak a few reasonable words”. Amen!

 An Exploration into prayer!

Luke18: 1-8.

Dear Friends, Every religion on the face of this earth has taught human kind to pray. The Hebrew meaning of the word prayer is “bending one’s knee”. We bend our knee to express reverence and respect for a presence. We bend our knee to look at ourselves and evaluate. “Search me O God and know my heart”. (Psalm 139) In bended knee we offer thanks to God “Taste and see that the Lord is good”. (Psalm 34) A Hindu devotee falls prostrate in the temple and prays to God for guidance. A Buddhist prays in a shrine following the chant of a monk. If you are a person of the Islamic faith you turn your face towards Mecca pray for five times a day. Whether you work in the office or sit in the living room, those five times of the day are set aside to think of the ground of all our being, in prayer. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount “Strive first for God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness and all these things will be given to you”. (Matt 6) What are these things? Or Let me ask it this way: Do I have to be a Christian to receive the basic things such as food clothing and shelter in life? If I am not receiving them then someone is not doing his or her job well. There must be some fraud and misuse with the public funds. Perhaps the grains and the meat and the vegetables are hoarded by the greedy. Is it true only the prayers of the Christians are answered? Can we still hold onto that ancient maxim: A family that prays together stays together? Are Christians happier and more contented than the people of other faiths or even persons who have no faith? Someone said that when you speak to God it is called prayer, and when God speaks to you it is called paranoia. Paul says(Romans 8) “we do not know how to pray unless the Holy Spirit intercedes for us” As a little child of five I remember the days of kneeling down for prayer on a mat made of Palmyra leaf. There were four of us, a father, a mother and a sister who is 14 years older than me and still living. This five year old boy still remembers a small altar in our living room and our praying twice a day around it. This five year old remembers seeing the scenic beauty of the morning as soon as the prayers were over. It was the time when the tropical sun would rise over the Indian Ocean at the background of the early morning sky of the orient. For the home of this 5year old was built in a country called Sri Lanka which is an island on the Indian Ocean. Our format of prayer was a collage of a song, a Psalm, a time of sharing and a prayer. It lasted for 30minutes.We prayed again during the sun set. Our home did not have electricity those days. When the prayer was over the lamps were lit and darkness dispelled. The following hymn made much sense for us on those days; “LEAD KINDLY LIGHT, AMID THE ENCIRCLING GLOOM, LEAD THOU ME ON.THE NIGHT IS DARK AND I AM FAR FROM HOME, LEAD THOU ME ON.KEEP THOU MY FEET, I DO NOT ASK TO SEE THE DISTANT SCENE, ONE STEP ENOUGH FOR ME.” By the way this was also the song which Gandhi used for his night time prayers every evening. I do not pray this way anymore.

       In the last several decades I have been exposed to many cultural revolutions, paradigms shifts, theological twists and turns. With the publication of the Secular City by Harvey Cox and   Honest to God by Bishop Robinson and with an emergence of a brand of theology called the “Death of God theology in the 6o’s, “my understanding of prayer has gone through a metamorphosis. I still believe fervently in prayer however I do not feel the need to defend God. A little child addressed her prayer to God and concluded it this way “Darling God please look after yourself for if you are lost we are sunk.” I find it difficult carry with me a big list to God for favors. In a cartoon a little boy is kneeling down in prayer, and underneath there is the following caption or the words: Aunt Harriet hasn’t got married, uncle Hubert does not have a job, Daddy’s hair is falling out and I am tired of praying for this family without getting any results.

       In today’s gospel Jesus said, in a city perhaps Capernaum or Cana; we don’t know. All we know is that there was a widow and also an unjust judge. This story is centered on these two characters. Perhaps the land lord was charging an exorbitant amount of money as rent from the widow. As I read the story I can hear the widow shouting at the top of her voice “GRANT ME JUSTICE”. She persistently begged the judge “treat me fairly against my opponent”. Even though the judge earned a reputation for being an unjust judge, the persistence of the widow moved him on the right direction. Her aggravation made the judge to study the case quickly about her dispute with the opponent. This is a story of a hard hearted and cruel judge having a heart changing experience. His verdict on the case was fair. And it was in support of the widow. This is a story to remind all of us, persistent in life does bring fair results. Jesus is talking here about persistent prayer. Now what is a persistent prayer? Can you picture the waves of the ocean which shape the beach? How about a bird looking for its first twig for the building of a nest? How about an ant carrying a grain of sand or a potter with a lump of clay in his hands working on a beautiful sculpture? How about a seed taking a few months for the process of germination in the soil or as you see in today’s power point a plant bursting out of a rock. How about a child learning the alphabets for the first time? How did Jesus pray? What comes to mind immediately is the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught us a wonderful model prayer in which, he called God “OUR FATHER”. (my dearest daddy) and it is as simple as that. And that is all we need to call for God’s attention on us. Then we pray “let your kingdom come” or perhaps “use us O God” to bring about peace and justice on this earth.

“Let your will be done”. In other words, Lord you know what is good and best for me and now help me get a sense of it. I can not change your mind God, but help me change mine. Our understanding of prayer is too cheap and shallow. We pile up all kinds of adjectives and descriptions to call God’s attention: Merciful God, the lover of humanity, God of grace, God of glory, Father God, Mother God, almighty God, Risen savior, First cause and unmoved mover. Jesus in a finger snap said “Hi Daddy”. How many nuances and descriptions do we need for God? I am often overwhelmed with all the liturgical components of prayer needed to get to God? Do we always need adoration, praise, confession, supplication, thanksgiving and intercession and many many more? How can we simplify prayer? And here is my closing quotation. It is not about prayer, but here are some good thoughts to ponder; thoughts of a well-known 18^th century German playwright and novelist, poet and a politician by the name Johann von Goethe: One ought every day at least hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if possible speak a few reasonable words”. Amen!

 An Exploration into prayer!

Luke18: 1-8.

Dear Friends, Every religion on the face of this earth has taught human kind to pray. The Hebrew meaning of the word prayer is “bending one’s knee”. We bend our knee to express reverence and respect for a presence. We bend our knee to look at ourselves and evaluate. “Search me O God and know my heart”. (Psalm 139) In bended knee we offer thanks to God “Taste and see that the Lord is good”. (Psalm 34) A Hindu devotee falls prostrate in the temple and prays to God for guidance. A Buddhist prays in a shrine following the chant of a monk. If you are a person of the Islamic faith you turn your face towards Mecca pray for five times a day. Whether you work in the office or sit in the living room, those five times of the day are set aside to think of the ground of all our being, in prayer. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount “Strive first for God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness and all these things will be given to you”. (Matt 6) What are these things? Or Let me ask it this way: Do I have to be a Christian to receive the basic things such as food clothing and shelter in life? If I am not receiving them then someone is not doing his or her job well. There must be some fraud and misuse with the public funds. Perhaps the grains and the meat and the vegetables are hoarded by the greedy. Is it true only the prayers of the Christians are answered? Can we still hold onto that ancient maxim: A family that prays together stays together? Are Christians happier and more contented than the people of other faiths or even persons who have no faith? Someone said that when you speak to God it is called prayer, and when God speaks to you it is called paranoia. Paul says(Romans 8) “we do not know how to pray unless the Holy Spirit intercedes for us” As a little child of five I remember the days of kneeling down for prayer on a mat made of Palmyra leaf. There were four of us, a father, a mother and a sister who is 14 years older than me and still living. This five year old boy still remembers a small altar in our living room and our praying twice a day around it. This five year old remembers seeing the scenic beauty of the morning as soon as the prayers were over. It was the time when the tropical sun would rise over the Indian Ocean at the background of the early morning sky of the orient. For the home of this 5year old was built in a country called Sri Lanka which is an island on the Indian Ocean. Our format of prayer was a collage of a song, a Psalm, a time of sharing and a prayer. It lasted for 30minutes.We prayed again during the sun set. Our home did not have electricity those days. When the prayer was over the lamps were lit and darkness dispelled. The following hymn made much sense for us on those days; “LEAD KINDLY LIGHT, AMID THE ENCIRCLING GLOOM, LEAD THOU ME ON.THE NIGHT IS DARK AND I AM FAR FROM HOME, LEAD THOU ME ON.KEEP THOU MY FEET, I DO NOT ASK TO SEE THE DISTANT SCENE, ONE STEP ENOUGH FOR ME.” By the way this was also the song which Gandhi used for his night time prayers every evening. I do not pray this way anymore.

       In the last several decades I have been exposed to many cultural revolutions, paradigms shifts, theological twists and turns. With the publication of the Secular City by Harvey Cox and   Honest to God by Bishop Robinson and with an emergence of a brand of theology called the “Death of God theology in the 6o’s, “my understanding of prayer has gone through a metamorphosis. I still believe fervently in prayer however I do not feel the need to defend God. A little child addressed her prayer to God and concluded it this way “Darling God please look after yourself for if you are lost we are sunk.” I find it difficult carry with me a big list to God for favors. In a cartoon a little boy is kneeling down in prayer, and underneath there is the following caption or the words: Aunt Harriet hasn’t got married, uncle Hubert does not have a job, Daddy’s hair is falling out and I am tired of praying for this family without getting any results.

       In today’s gospel Jesus said, in a city perhaps Capernaum or Cana; we don’t know. All we know is that there was a widow and also an unjust judge. This story is centered on these two characters. Perhaps the land lord was charging an exorbitant amount of money as rent from the widow. As I read the story I can hear the widow shouting at the top of her voice “GRANT ME JUSTICE”. She persistently begged the judge “treat me fairly against my opponent”. Even though the judge earned a reputation for being an unjust judge, the persistence of the widow moved him on the right direction. Her aggravation made the judge to study the case quickly about her dispute with the opponent. This is a story of a hard hearted and cruel judge having a heart changing experience. His verdict on the case was fair. And it was in support of the widow. This is a story to remind all of us, persistent in life does bring fair results. Jesus is talking here about persistent prayer. Now what is a persistent prayer? Can you picture the waves of the ocean which shape the beach? How about a bird looking for its first twig for the building of a nest? How about an ant carrying a grain of sand or a potter with a lump of clay in his hands working on a beautiful sculpture? How about a seed taking a few months for the process of germination in the soil or as you see in today’s power point a plant bursting out of a rock. How about a child learning the alphabets for the first time? How did Jesus pray? What comes to mind immediately is the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught us a wonderful model prayer in which, he called God “OUR FATHER”. (my dearest daddy) and it is as simple as that. And that is all we need to call for God’s attention on us. Then we pray “let your kingdom come” or perhaps “use us O God” to bring about peace and justice on this earth.

“Let your will be done”. In other words, Lord you know what is good and best for me and now help me get a sense of it. I can not change your mind God, but help me change mine. Our understanding of prayer is too cheap and shallow. We pile up all kinds of adjectives and descriptions to call God’s attention: Merciful God, the lover of humanity, God of grace, God of glory, Father God, Mother God, almighty God, Risen savior, First cause and unmoved mover. Jesus in a finger snap said “Hi Daddy”. How many nuances and descriptions do we need for God? I am often overwhelmed with all the liturgical components of prayer needed to get to God? Do we always need adoration, praise, confession, supplication, thanksgiving and intercession and many many more? How can we simplify prayer? And here is my closing quotation. It is not about prayer, but here are some good thoughts to ponder; thoughts of a well-known 18^th century German playwright and novelist, poet and a politician by the name Johann von Goethe: One ought every day at least hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if possible speak a few reasonable words”. Amen!

 An Exploration into prayer!

Luke18: 1-8.

Dear Friends, Every religion on the face of this earth has taught human kind to pray. The Hebrew meaning of the word prayer is “bending one’s knee”. We bend our knee to express reverence and respect for a presence. We bend our knee to look at ourselves and evaluate. “Search me O God and know my heart”. (Psalm 139) In bended knee we offer thanks to God “Taste and see that the Lord is good”. (Psalm 34) A Hindu devotee falls prostrate in the temple and prays to God for guidance. A Buddhist prays in a shrine following the chant of a monk. If you are a person of the Islamic faith you turn your face towards Mecca pray for five times a day. Whether you work in the office or sit in the living room, those five times of the day are set aside to think of the ground of all our being, in prayer. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount “Strive first for God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness and all these things will be given to you”. (Matt 6) What are these things? Or Let me ask it this way: Do I have to be a Christian to receive the basic things such as food clothing and shelter in life? If I am not receiving them then someone is not doing his or her job well. There must be some fraud and misuse with the public funds. Perhaps the grains and the meat and the vegetables are hoarded by the greedy. Is it true only the prayers of the Christians are answered? Can we still hold onto that ancient maxim: A family that prays together stays together? Are Christians happier and more contented than the people of other faiths or even persons who have no faith? Someone said that when you speak to God it is called prayer, and when God speaks to you it is called paranoia. Paul says(Romans 8) “we do not know how to pray unless the Holy Spirit intercedes for us” As a little child of five I remember the days of kneeling down for prayer on a mat made of Palmyra leaf. There were four of us, a father, a mother and a sister who is 14 years older than me and still living. This five year old boy still remembers a small altar in our living room and our praying twice a day around it. This five year old remembers seeing the scenic beauty of the morning as soon as the prayers were over. It was the time when the tropical sun would rise over the Indian Ocean at the background of the early morning sky of the orient. For the home of this 5year old was built in a country called Sri Lanka which is an island on the Indian Ocean. Our format of prayer was a collage of a song, a Psalm, a time of sharing and a prayer. It lasted for 30minutes.We prayed again during the sun set. Our home did not have electricity those days. When the prayer was over the lamps were lit and darkness dispelled. The following hymn made much sense for us on those days; “LEAD KINDLY LIGHT, AMID THE ENCIRCLING GLOOM, LEAD THOU ME ON.THE NIGHT IS DARK AND I AM FAR FROM HOME, LEAD THOU ME ON.KEEP THOU MY FEET, I DO NOT ASK TO SEE THE DISTANT SCENE, ONE STEP ENOUGH FOR ME.” By the way this was also the song which Gandhi used for his night time prayers every evening. I do not pray this way anymore.

       In the last several decades I have been exposed to many cultural revolutions, paradigms shifts, theological twists and turns. With the publication of the Secular City by Harvey Cox and   Honest to God by Bishop Robinson and with an emergence of a brand of theology called the “Death of God theology in the 6o’s, “my understanding of prayer has gone through a metamorphosis. I still believe fervently in prayer however I do not feel the need to defend God. A little child addressed her prayer to God and concluded it this way “Darling God please look after yourself for if you are lost we are sunk.” I find it difficult carry with me a big list to God for favors. In a cartoon a little boy is kneeling down in prayer, and underneath there is the following caption or the words: Aunt Harriet hasn’t got married, uncle Hubert does not have a job, Daddy’s hair is falling out and I am tired of praying for this family without getting any results.

       In today’s gospel Jesus said, in a city perhaps Capernaum or Cana; we don’t know. All we know is that there was a widow and also an unjust judge. This story is centered on these two characters. Perhaps the land lord was charging an exorbitant amount of money as rent from the widow. As I read the story I can hear the widow shouting at the top of her voice “GRANT ME JUSTICE”. She persistently begged the judge “treat me fairly against my opponent”. Even though the judge earned a reputation for being an unjust judge, the persistence of the widow moved him on the right direction. Her aggravation made the judge to study the case quickly about her dispute with the opponent. This is a story of a hard hearted and cruel judge having a heart changing experience. His verdict on the case was fair. And it was in support of the widow. This is a story to remind all of us, persistent in life does bring fair results. Jesus is talking here about persistent prayer. Now what is a persistent prayer? Can you picture the waves of the ocean which shape the beach? How about a bird looking for its first twig for the building of a nest? How about an ant carrying a grain of sand or a potter with a lump of clay in his hands working on a beautiful sculpture? How about a seed taking a few months for the process of germination in the soil or as you see in today’s power point a plant bursting out of a rock. How about a child learning the alphabets for the first time? How did Jesus pray? What comes to mind immediately is the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught us a wonderful model prayer in which, he called God “OUR FATHER”. (my dearest daddy) and it is as simple as that. And that is all we need to call for God’s attention on us. Then we pray “let your kingdom come” or perhaps “use us O God” to bring about peace and justice on this earth.

“Let your will be done”. In other words, Lord you know what is good and best for me and now help me get a sense of it. I can not change your mind God, but help me change mine. Our understanding of prayer is too cheap and shallow. We pile up all kinds of adjectives and descriptions to call God’s attention: Merciful God, the lover of humanity, God of grace, God of glory, Father God, Mother God, almighty God, Risen savior, First cause and unmoved mover. Jesus in a finger snap said “Hi Daddy”. How many nuances and descriptions do we need for God? I am often overwhelmed with all the liturgical components of prayer needed to get to God? Do we always need adoration, praise, confession, supplication, thanksgiving and intercession and many many more? How can we simplify prayer? And here is my closing quotation. It is not about prayer, but here are some good thoughts to ponder; thoughts of a well-known 18^th century German playwright and novelist, poet and a politician by the name Johann von Goethe: One ought every day at least hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if possible speak a few reasonable words”. Amen!

 An Exploration into prayer!

Luke18: 1-8.

Dear Friends, Every religion on the face of this earth has taught human kind to pray. The Hebrew meaning of the word prayer is “bending one’s knee”. We bend our knee to express reverence and respect for a presence. We bend our knee to look at ourselves and evaluate. “Search me O God and know my heart”. (Psalm 139) In bended knee we offer thanks to God “Taste and see that the Lord is good”. (Psalm 34) A Hindu devotee falls prostrate in the temple and prays to God for guidance. A Buddhist prays in a shrine following the chant of a monk. If you are a person of the Islamic faith you turn your face towards Mecca pray for five times a day. Whether you work in the office or sit in the living room, those five times of the day are set aside to think of the ground of all our being, in prayer. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount “Strive first for God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness and all these things will be given to you”. (Matt 6) What are these things? Or Let me ask it this way: Do I have to be a Christian to receive the basic things such as food clothing and shelter in life? If I am not receiving them then someone is not doing his or her job well. There must be some fraud and misuse with the public funds. Perhaps the grains and the meat and the vegetables are hoarded by the greedy. Is it true only the prayers of the Christians are answered? Can we still hold onto that ancient maxim: A family that prays together stays together? Are Christians happier and more contented than the people of other faiths or even persons who have no faith? Someone said that when you speak to God it is called prayer, and when God speaks to you it is called paranoia. Paul says(Romans 8) “we do not know how to pray unless the Holy Spirit intercedes for us” As a little child of five I remember the days of kneeling down for prayer on a mat made of Palmyra leaf. There were four of us, a father, a mother and a sister who is 14 years older than me and still living. This five year old boy still remembers a small altar in our living room and our praying twice a day around it. This five year old remembers seeing the scenic beauty of the morning as soon as the prayers were over. It was the time when the tropical sun would rise over the Indian Ocean at the background of the early morning sky of the orient. For the home of this 5year old was built in a country called Sri Lanka which is an island on the Indian Ocean. Our format of prayer was a collage of a song, a Psalm, a time of sharing and a prayer. It lasted for 30minutes.We prayed again during the sun set. Our home did not have electricity those days. When the prayer was over the lamps were lit and darkness dispelled. The following hymn made much sense for us on those days; “LEAD KINDLY LIGHT, AMID THE ENCIRCLING GLOOM, LEAD THOU ME ON.THE NIGHT IS DARK AND I AM FAR FROM HOME, LEAD THOU ME ON.KEEP THOU MY FEET, I DO NOT ASK TO SEE THE DISTANT SCENE, ONE STEP ENOUGH FOR ME.” By the way this was also the song which Gandhi used for his night time prayers every evening. I do not pray this way anymore.

       In the last several decades I have been exposed to many cultural revolutions, paradigms shifts, theological twists and turns. With the publication of the Secular City by Harvey Cox and   Honest to God by Bishop Robinson and with an emergence of a brand of theology called the “Death of God theology in the 6o’s, “my understanding of prayer has gone through a metamorphosis. I still believe fervently in prayer however I do not feel the need to defend God. A little child addressed her prayer to God and concluded it this way “Darling God please look after yourself for if you are lost we are sunk.” I find it difficult carry with me a big list to God for favors. In a cartoon a little boy is kneeling down in prayer, and underneath there is the following caption or the words: Aunt Harriet hasn’t got married, uncle Hubert does not have a job, Daddy’s hair is falling out and I am tired of praying for this family without getting any results.

       In today’s gospel Jesus said, in a city perhaps Capernaum or Cana; we don’t know. All we know is that there was a widow and also an unjust judge. This story is centered on these two characters. Perhaps the land lord was charging an exorbitant amount of money as rent from the widow. As I read the story I can hear the widow shouting at the top of her voice “GRANT ME JUSTICE”. She persistently begged the judge “treat me fairly against my opponent”. Even though the judge earned a reputation for being an unjust judge, the persistence of the widow moved him on the right direction. Her aggravation made the judge to study the case quickly about her dispute with the opponent. This is a story of a hard hearted and cruel judge having a heart changing experience. His verdict on the case was fair. And it was in support of the widow. This is a story to remind all of us, persistent in life does bring fair results. Jesus is talking here about persistent prayer. Now what is a persistent prayer? Can you picture the waves of the ocean which shape the beach? How about a bird looking for its first twig for the building of a nest? How about an ant carrying a grain of sand or a potter with a lump of clay in his hands working on a beautiful sculpture? How about a seed taking a few months for the process of germination in the soil or as you see in today’s power point a plant bursting out of a rock. How about a child learning the alphabets for the first time? How did Jesus pray? What comes to mind immediately is the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught us a wonderful model prayer in which, he called God “OUR FATHER”. (my dearest daddy) and it is as simple as that. And that is all we need to call for God’s attention on us. Then we pray “let your kingdom come” or perhaps “use us O God” to bring about peace and justice on this earth.

“Let your will be done”. In other words, Lord you know what is good and best for me and now help me get a sense of it. I can not change your mind God, but help me change mine. Our understanding of prayer is too cheap and shallow. We pile up all kinds of adjectives and descriptions to call God’s attention: Merciful God, the lover of humanity, God of grace, God of glory, Father God, Mother God, almighty God, Risen savior, First cause and unmoved mover. Jesus in a finger snap said “Hi Daddy”. How many nuances and descriptions do we need for God? I am often overwhelmed with all the liturgical components of prayer needed to get to God? Do we always need adoration, praise, confession, supplication, thanksgiving and intercession and many many more? How can we simplify prayer? And here is my closing quotation. It is not about prayer, but here are some good thoughts to ponder; thoughts of a well-known 18^th century German playwright and novelist, poet and a politician by the name Johann von Goethe: One ought every day at least hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if possible speak a few reasonable words”. Amen!