SERMON - Trinity 8 (Pentecost 9)

Pentecost 9 (Trinity 8)

+ May I speak in the name of God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN

I turned my telly on yesterday morning, and one of my heroes was there. Dave Myers, one of the Hairy Bikers (TV chefs) was cooking something that looked much too nice to be good for you. They have the perfect job, the last three series has seen them riding around the world on motorbikes, stopping to cook food every now and again.

It got me thinking about my perfect day – I would wake up and get them to cook my breakfast. I would then go for a round of golf, with Tiger Woods (of course), who would have flown in especially, to give me tips and advice on my game. After being driven home by Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari, I would chill out listening to the Rolling Stones (who would be playing in the garden), and the butler would get the door just in time for me to welcome Archbishop Rowan and J.K.Rowling, who would be there to write my Sunday sermon for me. That woman off Super nanny could put the kids to bed, while Ann and I settle down to a nice bottle of wine, and watch a film with a running commentary from Steven Spielberg, who, of course would be sat on the other sofa.

What a perfect day!

The chance to have a ‘masterclass’ from all those people would be just the thing really. It’s what we all need, a bit of attention to make sure that someone is saying we are doing the right thing…

Since I have been here in Magor, I regularly ask people what they think, and sometimes I even listen to the advice they give. Unfortunately, however, there is no ‘super-priest’ to check with, there is no ’24 benefice helpline’ to ring with all those queries I have from time-to-time.

And I was thinking about the disciples`, who, in our Gospel reading this morning were sat with JESUS, watching him praying. When he finishes, they ask him for a ‘master class’ in Prayer.

The disciples had been watching Jesus for some time. They realised that everything he did was bathed in prayer. Jesus prayed when his schedule was demanding and before he made big decisions. He prayed when he was disappointed. Mt. 14 recalls how Jesus prayed when he heard the news of John the Baptist’s death. He prayed when he was worried about his friends. And he prayed when he faced his ultimate challenge in Gethsemane.

The disciples saw that Jesus was at home with prayer. It came naturally to him. The disciples would have said that prayer was the most significant aspect of his life and ministry. Through it Jesus was filled with peace, wisdom, power and grace.

But I think that, like us, the disciples struggled with prayer. So after watching him for a long time they eventually pluck up the courage to ask him about it, to teach them to pray how he prayed. And the funny thing is, that was what Jesus was waiting for them to ask. God does not want us to struggle with prayer. He doesn’t want us to feel guilty about it. He wants us to relish it and become experts in it.

Today we have been invited to reflect upon the dimension of praying in Christian life. Praying is an essential, it is the foundation of our relationship with God, but moreover, it is our expression of trust in God. Prayer puts us in touch with the kind, patient creator who is always ready to listen to his creation.

The tasks that meet us in everyday life need to be submerged in prayer, especially when things go wrong, but also when we need to thank God for things going right. I like to think that God is teaching us, gently coaxing us through this life. For the vast majority of us things go wrong – spectacularly so – and we need to share our burdens with the one who knows exactly what we are feeling.

Sometimes things appear to be impossible, but with prayer (that action of sharing our best efforts and worst fears with God) they might just resolve themselves – sometimes not the way you have planned, but they are usually resolved.

Luke delights in frequently presenting Jesus praying. Luke never forgets to point out that in all the decisive moments in his life here on earth, Jesus is praying. He also shows us the unique way in which Jesus addresses God “Abba – Father”. This start to the prayers shows us much about the spirituality of Christ, as a son, the Son of God.

This expression of trust and surrender is present throughout the life of Jesus,, even in the darkest moments. The last words of Jesus before his death “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” are a succinct summary of his daily surrender in prayer.

It is not surprising, therefore to read in this morning’s readings that the disciples want to learn. They say something that has echoes for all of us. They say “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples”. Jesus, the master of all things spiritual, then shares his prayer with them. A prayer that is so powerful, we know it today.

OUR FATHER…..

As I say those words, we just want to join in, don’t we. It is the ultimate prayer for us as we reach out to God.

Not only do we know it, but almost everyone knows it. At School Assemblies, when you finish the prayers with Amen, the children are usually waiting for the response “Our Father….” And the great prayer starts. It is always a powerful and moving moment for all of us who try to reach out to others with the all-important Good News, the Gospel of Christ.

I don’t know if you knew, but we say “who art in Heaven”, or “which art in Heaven”, but the Greek says “God…in the air that is all around us.” That is important because it tells us that we are not praying to someone who is in a galaxy far, far away, but to someone who is right here with us now.

For all right-thinking Ordinands, who slave over a hot word processor creating liturgy – the one rule is that the blank screen can be started off with the Lord’s prayer, because it forms part of all our worship. However diverse our intentions, however strange the things we bless, without the prayer that Jesus taught us, it seems empty and incorrect.

And here, Luke (as Matthew does) presents the Lord’s prayer, and lists the intentions; the coming of the Kingdom as a reality and all its’ consequences; being fed by daily bread; forgiveness; and victory over temptation and evil. If when we pray to God, our intentions are not linked in some way to the Lord’s prayer, we are not praying to the Father as Jesus taught us.

The open door

With the short parable of the “persistent friend” an the advice accompanying it “Ask and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you” indicates another important aspect of prayer. Jesus is telling us that it must be constant or even persistent. Not because we are to live up to our secular nickname “God-botherers”, but because regular prayer is the way we freely show our trust in God, in the midst of our own needs. God’s door is always open to us.

There is a wonderful picture of this in the Old Testament reading. Poor old Abraham, he is on a bit of a sticky wicket. He is trying to save the citizens of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah from the wrath of God. God generously grants his request time and again, until it is fairly plain that there are very few good people in the cities. The judgement of God is severe; it is so severe that it is extravagant!

The point is that the door is always open to God, to ask (even the unthinkable) and the response will be kind. Having no link to God is quite literally death – and a link is the key to life.

Finally, in the gospel according to Luke, Jesus says “you who are evil” to describe the disciples – he then uses a common process in Rabbinical reasoning (going from the least to the most important) and then proclaims the ultimate motivation for trusting in prayer. He says “How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him”. Differently from US who are ‘evil’, the heavenly Father is good and gives only good things, sent through the Holy Spirit.

We are in a time of great change in the Benefice, we have the opportunity for growth and new life – we also have the opportunity for things to go wrong. The difference between the two possible outcomes will be the amount of ‘prayer’ we put into it. Prayer tells God what we want, but it also reminds US of our priorities.

As you pray during the week, try saying the words of the Lord’s prayer and consider what each intention means to us today. Be bold in what you ask of God, you will always be surprised by what you receive!

In the name of God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN