Sermon on the Mount cont

 

Yesterday, we dipped our pinkie toe into the topic of prayer.  We asked who taught you to pray and what you picked up in the pew on Sunday mornings about prayer.  We named that some of what we learned is good and some is not so great…even hurtful.  Today, I invite you to think about a moment of prayer that was meaningful and life giving.  Where were you?  Recall what you saw, heard, smelled, and felt deep in your soul.  For example, I had a moment of standing in the need of prayer at church camp, where I felt the warm sunny of July day, heard birds joining me in prayer, smelled the pine trees, and my soul felt peace.  In that moment I knew what Moses did standing before a burning bush ~ that all ground is holy.  Where was that moment you felt fully alive in God’s presence?  Enter that holy memory again.

 

In chapter 6 of Matthew, Jesus turns to prayer.  I will point out that Jesus is preaching outside, in creation, so perhaps it makes sense we feel closest to God out in nature.  Jesus talks of almsgiving or offerings, public prayers offered where others eavesdrop on our dialogue with God, and fasting.  Perhaps those categories don’t quite fit what you have been recalling in your memories.  Afterall, while there is still charitable giving, most of that can be done online or perhaps a check we put in an envelope.  Most of us don’t publicly pray, because isn’t that the pastor’s job?  Fasting is a diet trend not a prayer topic, right? 

 

And yet…I want you to hold these postures/practices close to your heart.  Jesus is saying that prayer is more expansive than folding our hands and bowing our heads.  Jesus is calling us to look at where are you offering your energy – time and talents – right now.   Where and how you show up is almsgiving of your presence.  What fills your calendar?  Look over your checking account, besides the mortgage and utilities, where else did you share financial resources in the last month?  Finally, fasting is not only refraining from food, but also, we can fast from cynicism or criticism (of self and others).  When I think of fasting, I love the quote from Viktor Frankl, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”  That space is where you pause, or fast in our instead response society where I gotta reply to that text right now.  How might fasting be sacred pauses throughout your day to listen for God’s wisdom?

 

I invite you to be playful with categories of sharing our time, talents, and treasures; our words and actions; and fasting.  I encourage you to creative in backing away from too much-ness of this world.  May these words of Jesus open you to how these three practices/postures of prayer might connect You to the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer of our lives every day.  Amen.