Word to the Wise
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 - 1st Week of Lent - Tues
[Isa 55:10-11 and Matt 6:7-15]In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. [Matthew]
In my ministry, both of written preaching (as in this Word to the Wise) and spoken preaching (as in the parish mission that I am currently preaching in New Orleans) I am very much aware of the power of a word! In fact, I'd dare say most of us are aware that saying the "right" or the "wrong" thing at the right or wrong time can have a powerful impact! So, the old saying about sticks and stones breaking bones but words never harming simply isn't true as far as I'm concerned. Words can help and harm! In prayer, words are the expression of faith. Yes, there are times when we cannot find words that will express what we want to say. St. Paul assures us, when that happens, that the Spirit will pray on our behalf. [Romans 8:26-27] I think the American poet, James Dickey, caught it well in one of his poems (I can't remember which one at the moment) when he says that prayer is not in the words but in the breath! After Jesus admonishes us not to multiply words as if the quantity will make a difference, he gives us the prayer that we refer to as "the Lord's Prayer" or "Our Father." In the Greek text, the verbs carry a force of wanting something to happen right away! There's an urgency that English doesn't capture. The first scripture from Isaiah speaks of the power and effectiveness of God's Word. Yes, we can pray even when we are unable to speak or even form words in our minds and hearts. It is the desire that makes the difference, but the words can give life to that desire and shape our communication. There's really no good substitute for the words, "I love you!" If even the Lord's Prayer is too much for us at a given moment, those three words can do it all. I once saw a poster that had a one word prayer, "Help!" If nothing else, this Lent, if we pay attention to the words in Jesus' prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us!" we will accomplish much - provided we do the forgiveness of which we speak! AMEN
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