St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Emmaus, PA
Reflections on The Season of Pentecost
The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, July 12, 2020
By Mo. Laura Thomas Howell
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This is the time of the year when we are normally on vacation, or thinking about the vacation soon to come. “The lazy, hazy days of summer.” Usually, church life at this time of year is pretty slow and informal. And our sanctuaries are more empty than usual. However, this year is anything but normal and our sanctuary is REALLY empty—I only wish it were because of vacation. And speaking of vacation…many of us aren’t going anywhere except to the back yard.
Funny thing, though. Those of us who are doing online services are seeing a lot more people than usual. At our Wednesday service, we have folks zooming in from other parishes and even a friend from Florida. A priest friend from a nearby parish has three times more people showing up online as used to appear in the pews. Something is happening…
I’d like to think that in the stress and uncertainty of the current times—pandemic, violence, hatred, division—that people are turning to their faith for answers and support. A very hopeful sign! Because our faith teaches that God is Love and asks us to love our neighbors at least as much as we love ourselves. What an antidote to the things we are seeing and hearing around us! Our need for help and hope from the Holy One, inevitably drives us to pray, to communicate with God. Today’s Collect is timely, because it is all about prayer. Lots of us feel that we don’t know how to do it, any more than the disciples did when they begged Jesus, “Teach us how to pray.”
The Collect reminds us that hearing our prayers is one of the ways that God expresses great mercy. Prayers are not merely words rattling around inside our brains. Nor are our prayers only products of some kind of psychological or emotional need to express our feelings. They are addressed to a real individual: God. And they are actively heard by the Holy One.
One of the most important reasons we pray is to know the will of God. “What should I do?” we cry. Amazingly, during the very time we are at prayer, we sometimes receive an indication of God’s will. Especially in times of trouble, we want to know what God’s purposes are. Although when God tells us, “Do this or do that,” we might respond argumentatively with questions like: “Why? What is the goal?” There is nothing wrong with that. God gave us brains as well as spirits, and expects us to use them.
Knowing God’s will is only the beginning. We must also understand it. I can know that God wants everyone in the world to brothers and sisters in Christ. But I really don’t grasp how it can happen, when there are so many obstacles: cultural, linguistic, financial and political. Understanding will require substantially more time in prayer.
Knowing and understanding are relatively passive activities. Yes, I must invest the time and effort in prayer, study and contemplation. But after that, the process moves into action. Specifically, what does God mean for me to do about what has been revealed to me? There is no one global answer, because God has different intentions for each of us. The implications are that we are EACH expected to pray for knowledge, and to struggle to understand God’s will for us.
Even after all of this, we are not done with our prayers. Once we are prepared to do what God invites us to, we pray that God will give us grace to carry out the task. Grace is an intriguing word to use when we are talking about work. If you have ever wanted to work, and have been prevented through illness, unemployment or family responsibilities, you know why work can be a grace. Work is one of the things that can give meaning to our lives—especially if we are doing the work God has laid out for us.
Finally, we pray that God will give us the power—physically, mentally, emotionally, intellectually—to do what we are called to do. And not only to do, but to accomplish God’s will. We pray on behalf of our own abilities, and we pray that we can see the task to the end.
Laid out in steps like this, it sounds great, right? But how does prayer happen? Where are the tools or maps that can help us? That question is answered in today’s portion of Psalm 119, where almost every verse answers, and repeats the answer in different ways to be sure that we understand. God’s word, read prayerfully and faithfully, is the map. Holy Scripture keeps our feet from stumbling. Holy Scripture lights the path, so we will not get off on the wrong track. Holy Scripture assures us that God will preserve us, even when we are in trouble. When we are at risk, remember God’s word. Holy Scripture is the treasure that we have inherited. Holy Scripture brings joy to our heart. And the psalm ends triumphantly with our promise in return that we will be true to God’s commandments.
As we pray faithfully, and receive guidance to step out in faith undertaking a job for God, we can trust that God will make it come out right. As Mother Teresa said, “God does not call us to be successful; God calls us to be faithful.”
Prayerful blessings on you all!
Laura+