THE DYNAMICSOf Christian Prayer

PART ONE_________________________

ByRev. Fr. George Ehusani

Faith Clinic, Wed July 8, 2009

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WHAT IS PRAYER?Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God. – St. John Damascene

Prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned towards heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy. – St Therese of Lisieux

Prayer is the encounter of God’s thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him. – St. Augustine

Prayer is the response of faith to the free promise of salvation and also a response of love to the thirst of the only Son of God. CCC 2561

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WHAT IS CHRISTIAN PRAYER?Christian prayer is the dialogue that goes on between God and the person in love with God

It is essentially “waiting on God” or holding on to the promise of God

It is the communion within the heart that occurs between the loving God and His children

It is the (verbal or non-verbal) expression of absolute faith, trust and confidence in, and total surrender to, God the Creator, the Redeemer and the Sanctifier

It is the demonstration of a humble acceptance of our state of sinfulness and utter helplessness and lowliness before an Awesome, Almighty, All-Holy, All-Loving and Ever-Faithful God

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WHAT IS CHRISTIAN PRAYER?Christian prayer is the celebration of the covenant relationship between God and the human person in Christ

It is the living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with His Son Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit

It is the action of God and of the human person- springing forth from both the Holy Spirit and ourselves wholly directed to the Father, through the Son_________________________________________The life of prayer is the habit of being in the presence of the Triune God and in communion with him

(See Brother Lawrence: The Practice of the Presence of God)

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PRAY?St. Augustine says that the Lord has created us for Himself and our hearts are restless until they rest in Him_______________________________________To pray is to be in touch with the object of our profound inner desire

To pray is to rest in the Lord from time to time

To pray is desire and pursue intimacy with God

To pray is to recognise the awesome presence of God and to respond to that presence with adoration, thanksgiving and petition

To pray is to recognise the deep void inside us which only God can fill – and to desire or hunger for the filling of that void

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WHAT HAPPENS AT PRAYERPrayer is God’s initiative. It is God’s gift

It is God who first seeks us out at prayer

It is He who first makes Himself known

The believer’s part is by way of response___________________________________

“The human being may forget his Creator or hide far from His face,he may run after idols or accuse the Deity of having abandoned him; yet the living and true God tirelessly calls each person to that mysterious encounter known as prayer. In prayer the faithful God’s Initiative of love always comes first. Our own first step is always a response” CCC 2567

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HEART: PLACE OF ENCOUNTER

Prayer comes from the heart

If our hearts are far from God the words of prayer are in vain

The heart – our hidden centre – the place of truth - the place of decision – the place of covenant – is the locus of prayer

Prayer however engages the whole personWhether expressed in words or other gesture it is the whole person who prays

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EARLIEST EVIDENCE OF PRAYER The Revelation of prayer comes between the fall of our first parents and our restoration in Christ—

It is located between God’s sorrowful call: “Where are you… What is this that you have done? and the response of God’s only Son when he came into the world:“Lo, I have come to do your will, O God(Genesis 3:9-13; Hebrews 10:7)____________________________________First evidences of prayer are:Abel’s offering of the first born of his flock to GodEnoch’s invocation of the divine name and his “walking with God”Noah’s offering that was pleasing to God(Genesis 4:4, 26; 5:25; 6:9; 8:20-9:17)

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THE PRAYERS OF ABRAHAMAbraham’s prayer is first expressed by deed:______________________________________

Abraham goes forth as the Lord had told him

His heart was entirely submissive to God’s word(Such submissiveness – such docility of heart - is essential to prayer. The words we use in prayer are important only to the extent that they come out of a “submissive heart”)

Abraham worshipped the Lord in silenceAnd he constructed an altar to the Lord at each stage of his journey

His first prayer (in words) – by which he tried to remind God of his promises came much later(Genesis 15:2f)

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THE PRAYERS OF ABRAHAM

God revealed his plans and made his promisesto Abraham. Abraham believed He embraced God’s promiseHis heart became attuned to God’s love and compassionThis gave him the boldness and confidence to pray for himself and intercede for others(See intercession for Sodom - Genesis 18:16-33)

Even when God asked him to sacrifice his son IsaacAbraham’s faith did not weaken

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THE PRAYER OF JACOB

Before confronting his brother Esau JACOB had a spectacular prayer encounter with God as he “wrestles” all night with a mysterious figure (Genesis 32:24-30)

This is the origin of the Church’s symbolism of prayer as “a battle of faith” or as the triumph of perseverance (See Luke 18:1-8)

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THE PRAYERS OF MOSESGod called MOSES from the midst of the burning bush – and Moses answeredIn the dialogue that ensued, Moses learnt to pray—He protests, makes excuses and asks questionsThis is a classic image of prayer for Jews and Christians (Exodus 3:1-10)

The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friend. He often conversed with God at length (Ex 33:11)

Moses constantly told God:You are a loving, righteous and faithful GodYou cannot contradict yourselfYour must remember your promisesYou cannot forsake the people that bear your nameYour glory is at stake!

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THE PRAYERS OF MOSESThe prayers of Moses are a classic example of intercessory prayer:He does not pray for himself but for the people whom God made his ownHe intercedes for them during the battle with the Amalekites and prays for Miriam’s healing(Exodus 17:8-12; Numbers 12:13-14)

And when the people sinned greviouslyMoses “stood in the breach” before God in order to save the people. He battled with God to save the people!

The prayers of Moses were heard becauseMoses was very humble— more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth (Num 12:3,7-8)

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YOUNG SAMUEL LEARNS TO PRAY

The leaders of the people – Priests & Prophets taught them to pray

Young Samuel learnt from his mother how to stand before the Lord

Then he learnt from his master Eli how to recognise the voice of the Lord and respond: “Speak Lord your servant is listening”(1 Sam 3:3-10)

He later became committed to the task of interceding for his people (1 Sam 7:18-29)

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THE PRAYERS OF KING DAVID

David was the king “after God’s own heart.”His prayers were the prayers of God’s anointed(See 2 Samuel 7:18-29)

In the Psalms of David we see—

His demonstration of faith in God’s promiseHis joyful trust in GodHis submission to God’s willHis praise & glorification of GodHis penitent petitions to GodHis expression of the people’s prayer before God

The Psalms of David are inspired by the Holy SpiritThis is why Jesus made elaborate use of them in his own prayer

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THE PSALMS OF DAVIDThe Psalms both nourish and express the prayer of the people of God gatheredin the Synagogue each Sabbath day, and in Jerusalem for the major feasts

They are both +Personal prayers, and + Communal prayers

The Psalms arose from +Communities in the Holy Land, and +Communities in the DiasporaAnd they embrace All men and women , and All of creation _____________________________________(See Ezra 9:6-15; Nehemiah 1:4-11; Tobith 311-16; Judith 9:2-14 for the rich use of the Psalms)

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THE PSALMS OF DAVIDChrist prayed the Psalms regularly

Many of the Psalms find fulfilment in Him

They are an essential prayer of the Church_________________________________

They are in various forms:HymnsPrayers of LamentationPrayers of ThanksgivingRoyal ChantsPilgrimage SongsWisdom-Meditation

They tell the story of God’s marvellous works They are also a reflect ion of our common human experience

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THE PRAYER OF KING SOLOMONAt the dedication of the Temple of JerusalemKing Solomon lifted his eyes to heaven and prayed:

On his own behalfOn behalf of the entire peopleOn behalf of generations yet to comeFor forgiveness of their sinsFor their daily needs That the nations may know that he is the only GodThat the heart of his people may belong wholly and entirely to God ( 1 Kings 8:10-61)

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THE PRAYERS OF ELIJAHElijah is the “father” of the prophets— the generation of those who seek the face of the God of Jacob

Elijah’s ministry demonstrates how powerful the prayer of the righteous could beElijah prayed: “Answer me, O Lord answer me” And the Lord’s fire consumed the holocaust!

(See Elijah’s encounter with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-40)

Elijah also had the unique experience of God’s mysterious self-revelation when he most needed it – he ran from his enemies into the desert!________________________________The revelation was preceded by a quiet, gentle breeze (1Kings 19:1-14)

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PRAYERS OF PROPHETSIN GENERALIn their one-on-one encounter with God the prophets received God’s call and drew light and strength for their mission

Their prayers were in the form of Attentiveness to the Word of God Argument Complaint

But they were always an intercession that awaited the Lord’s intervention at the moment . Yet they also had an eschatological dimension— They awaited the Lord’s ultimate intervention in history – with the coming of the Saviour! (See Amos 7:2,5; Isaiah 6:5, 8, 11; Jeremiah 1:6; 15:15-18)

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THE PRAYER LIFE OF MARY

The first time Mary appeared in the Scriptures she was engaged in prayer – in conversation with the Angel Gabriel

She was addressed as “full of grace”

The Lord was with her

She said “yes” to the Lord’s request(I am the handmaid of the Lord Let it be done to me according to your word)

Then we hear her proclaim the MAGNIFICAT

At the birth of Jesus Mary TREASURED all that was said about her Son and PONDERED THEM in her heart

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THE PRAYER LIFE OF MARY

At the Wedding in CanaMary interceded for the couple And Jesus’ first miracle was performed

The last time her name was mentioned she was praying with the disciples in the Upper RoomThey were awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit

(Luke 1:38; John 2:1-12; John 19:25-27; Luke 1:46-55)

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THE PRAYER LIFE OF JESUSJesus demonstrated the importance of prayer in his life and ministry.

He gives us a supreme example of prayer-life

As a regular practice Jesus constantly withdrew from the crowd to a lonely place to pray

Before decisive moments/major landmarks in his ministry Jesus prayed—Before his Baptism and TransfigurationBefore choosing his ApostlesBefore Peter’s confession of Him as the ChristBefore the raising of Lazarus from the deadBefore his Passion and Death (Gethsemane) (Mark 1:35; Luke 3:21; 9:28; 22:32; John 11:41-42)

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THE PRAYER LIFE OF JESUSJesus’ prayer was characterised by:FAITH in the Father’s love & presenceCONFIDENCE that his prayers would be heardTHANKSGIVING – even before receiving the gift OBEDIENCE/SURRENDER or LOVING SUBMISSION to the will of God________________________________________

Hebrews 5:7-9 says:In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard for his godly fears. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through suffering, and being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him

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THE PRAYER LIFE OF JESUS

The high priestly prayer of Jesus (John 17) is the most significant of Jesus’ prayersIt is the prayer of a High Priest for his people

It reveals the love, affection and intimacy that Jesus shares with His Father

He prayed:That we the disciples may be oneThat we may be preserved in the truthThat we may be protected from the evil oneThat none of us who belong to him may be lost

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THE PRAYER LIFE OF JESUSThe last words of Jesus on the Cross are a combination of prayer and an expression of self-gift

Father forgive them for they know not…

I thirst

My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?

Father into your hands I commit my spirit

It is finished

(Luke 23:34; Mark 15:34 (Psalm 22:2); Luke 23:46)

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JESUS TEACHES US TO PRAYAs Jesus prayed his disciples learned to prayBut at their formal request , He taught them the “Pater Noster”

He said - You should pray like this:Our Father in heaven May your name be held holy…(Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4)

He also taught them the conditions necessary for prayer to be efficacious. They include— Bold/Courageous/Audacious/Expectant Faith Trust in God’s goodness Conversion of heart & Humility Forgiveness of neighbour Reconciliation with neighbour Persistence/Perseverance/Vigilance(Luke 11:5-13; Luke 18:1-8; Matthew 18:23-35)

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JESUS’ PARABLES ON PRAYERJesus told a number of parables on—

the importance of prayer the need to persevere in prayer humility as a necessary disposition for prayer The parables include—

The Importunate friend (Luke 11:5-13)

The importunate widow (Luke 18:1-8)

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)________________________________________

The humble prayer of the Tax Collector in the parable became a most popular Christian prayer:“Lord, be merciful to me a sinner!”

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JESUS HEARD PRAYERSJesus invites his disciples (in Matthew 7:7)TO ASK – and they shall receiveTO SEEK – and they shall findTO KNOCK – and the door shall be opened to them________________________________________While on earth he already heard many prayers:

The Leper Jairus the Synagogue OfficialThe Canaanite womanThe ParalyticThe Woman with HaemorrhageThe Sinful Woman who anointed him with tears and ointment Bartimaeus the blind beggarThe Good Thief

Jesus constantly responded to the prayers of faith

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PRAY IN THE NAME JESUSAfter introducing his disciples to the mystery of prayer, Jesus teaches them to ask the Father for their needs in His name

Faith in the Son introduces us into the knowledge of the Father, Because Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life____________________________________Christ is glorified when we ask the Father for anything we need in his name ____________________________________He assures us that our prayers would be heard if we have the faith that bears fruit in love if we keep His Word if we abide in Him and in His Father

(See John 14:13-14; 16:24)

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PRAYERS OF JESUS

St. Augustine says that

Jesus prays for us as our priest

He prays in us as our Head

He is prayed to by us as our God

OUR FATHER

WHO ART IN HEAVEN

HALLOWED BE THY NAME

THY KINGDOM COME

THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH

AS IT IS IN HEAVEN

GIVE US THIS DAY

OUR DAILY BREAD

AND FORGIVE US OUR SINS

AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION

BUT DELIVER US FROM ALL EVIL

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM

THE POWER AND THE GLORY

FOR EVER AND EVER

AMEN