Pen and Ink Reflections
  • Blog
  • about
  • other reflections
  • contact

3 more 'p's for prayer

10/11/2017

0 Comments

 
Two days ago, Bishop Jonathan broke open the beginning of this great teaching section of Luke’s gospel on prayer, by reminding us of the centrality of Jesus’s statement ‘only a few things are necessary’. Yesterday, Jo brought us a succinct summary of Luke’s raw rendering of the Lord’s Prayer under five headings all beginning with P, praise and proclamation, leading to providence, penitence and protection. To those five Ps today I want to add three more, Perseverance, Poverty and Purification.  I hope these three will shed a little more light on the great P that unites them, Prayer...
The little parable with which today’s gospel portion begins is superficially about perseverance. As such it is often linked with the parable of the widow and the unjust judge and interpreted as an encouragement to keep on asking. The problem of course with this interpretation is that it presents God as reluctant and requiring our coaxing and cajoling to comply with our requests. This however is not the intention.
 
Ken Bailey’s sociological interpretation  is very ‘helpful and provocative. A key point that he makes concerns the cultural expectation regarding hospitality. “The Oriental responsibility for his guest is legendary. . . . The host must serve his guest and the guest must eat.” For a host to be unable to offer hospitality to a guest would be shameful; more importantly, it would bring shame not only on himself, but also on the entire village. “A guest must leave the village with a good feeling about the hospitality of the village as a community.”’*Consequently, while to our ears it may seem unreasonable that our friend would wake us up at midnight to ask for the loan of three loaves of bread, in its social context what was being asked was an urgent necessity, not only for the person asking but also for the one being asked. This sheds a different light on the whole exchange. Jesus is saying, ‘you know that everyone of you in these circumstances would say ‘yes’, how much more then can we expect that God will say ‘yes’ to our legitimate requests.’
 
So perseverance is involved but it is not the main thing. Which brings me to poverty. For there is a little debate around the translation of one word in this parable, the word here translated ‘persistence’, ‘because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.’ The Greek word here is αναίδεια ,sometimes indeed translated persistence, but more commonly shamelessness. Why is this person shameless? Because they have nothing to lose and will therefore persist no matter what. Their poverty makes them shameless and hence persistent.
 
How does this relate to our prayer? Well I am reminded of the verse from the psalms, ‘God hears the cry of the poor.’ That’s us. For we have nothing to offer God but our poverty and our longing that God will fill us with God’s self, the gift of God’s Holy Spirit.
 
Which brings us to the second part of our passage today. ‘Ask and it will be given, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you.’ In the early part of our Christian journey it is easy to get caught up here in questions about why God does not seem to answer my prayers for this or that. After a while we learn that prayer is not about God answering our requests for things we believe we need, however good and worthwhile those things may seem to be. Prayer is about asking God for the things God has actually promised to give and always will give, most particularly God’s very self through the Spirit, as Jesus concludes. These are ‘the few things necessary’ to which Jesus referred at the beginning of this exploration of prayer. Which is not to pretend that it is easy. The Welsh poet RS Thomas expresses it well in his poem ‘Folk Tale’
 
Prayers like gravel
Flung at the sky’s
window, hoping to attract
the loved one’s
attention. But without
visible plaits to let
down for the believer
to climb up,
to what purpose open
that far casement?
I would
have refrained long since
but that peering once
through my locked fingers
I thought that I detected
the movement of a curtain
 
We come to prayer as lovers and paupers, not as leaders and teachers. To arrive at this point involves my third P, a  process of purification that is life long. As TS Eliot described it in his poem Little Gidding, it is ‘about the purification of the motive in the ground of our beseeching.’ So long as we think we know what is best, and are asking God for that, we are still in charge. Our motive is not purified. The ego is still in control. Prayer, deep prayer, is about letting go of all of that. It is about offering persistently, our longing for God, in poverty of spirit and trust that God will always give us Gods self. God sees our longing and responds, but never in the ways we expect and often in ways we cannot see or understand. The path may be light or dark, for as psalmist says, ‘both light and dark are both alike to thee’.
 
This weekend some of us are privileged to enter into retreat. May we at this and every time, come to God in poverty with our hands empty and our hearts pure and may we glimpse there something of the kingdom of which RS Thomas wrote
 
… [it] takes no time and admission
Is free, if you will purge yourself
Of desire, and present yourself with
Your need only and the simple offering
Of your faith, green as a leaf.
 
Amen
 
* quoted from “Prayer and Despair: The Parables of the Friend at Midnight and the Unjust Judge” a thesis by Ronald A. Julian

by Penny Jones, 12 October 2017, for SFC eucharist
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Authors

    sermons and reflections from Penny Jones & Josephine Inkpin, an Anglican married clergy couple serving with the Uniting Church in Sydney

    Archives

    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    Categories

    All
    2 Peter
    ABM
    Aboriginal
    Abraham
    Abuse
    Active
    Acts Of The Apostles
    Adam And Eve
    Advent
    Advocacy
    African-American
    Aidan
    Alan Webster
    Albanian
    Alice In Wonderland
    Allegory
    All Saints
    Andrew
    Angel
    Anger
    Anglican
    Animals
    Anna
    Anoiniting
    Anselm
    Anthony Bloom
    Antioch
    Apophatic
    Archbishop Of Canterbury
    Armenian
    Art
    Artist
    Ash Wednesday
    Asylum Seekers
    Atonement
    Augustine
    Australia
    Authenticity
    Baha'i
    Bakerwoman
    Baptism
    Barefoot
    Barnabas
    Bartimaeus
    Battle Of One Tree Hill
    Beach
    Beatitudes
    Becoming
    Bede
    Being
    Believing
    Belonging
    Beloved
    Berlin
    Betrayal
    Bible
    Birmingham
    Birth
    Bishop
    Black
    Blessed
    Blessing
    Blessing Of Animals
    Boat
    Bob Dylan
    Body
    Bonhoeffer
    Border
    Born Again
    Boundaries
    Bread
    Bread Of Life
    Breath
    Brexit
    Bride
    Bridegroom
    Brigid
    Brisbane
    Brokenness
    Bruegemann
    Buddha
    Buddhist
    Buderim
    Bunyan
    Call
    Cambodia
    Campfire
    Cana
    Canaanite
    Candle
    Candlemas
    Cappadocian Fathers
    Care
    Careers
    Carefully
    Carnival
    Carol
    Catholic
    Celtic
    Centurion
    Change
    Cheesemakers
    Child Of God
    Children
    Christ
    Christian
    Christian Aid
    Christmas
    Christology
    Christ The King
    Church
    City
    Climate
    Climbing
    Cloak
    Cloud Of Unknowing
    Coin
    Colossians
    Commandment
    Common Good
    Communion
    Community
    Companion
    Compassion
    Condamine
    Conflict
    Connect
    Contemplate
    Contemplative
    Context
    Corinth
    Coronavirus
    Cosmology
    Cost
    Courage
    Covenant
    Covid 19
    Covid-19
    Crack
    Create
    Creation
    Creed
    Creek
    Crib
    Cross
    Crossing Over
    Crucifixion
    Csg
    C.S.Lewis
    Cuddesdon
    Culture
    Cunnamulla
    Cynthia Bourgeault
    Cyprian
    Dance
    Darkness
    Darlughdach
    Dave-andrews
    David
    David-mach
    David Steindl Rast
    David Steindl-Rast
    Deacon
    Dean Inge
    Death
    Delight
    Demon
    Desert
    Desire
    Deuteronomy
    Devil
    Difference
    Disability
    Disciple
    Discipleship
    Donkey
    Dorcas
    Dorothy Soelle
    Doubt
    Duns Scotus
    Durham
    Earth
    Easter
    Easterfest
    Ecumenical
    Eden
    Education
    Egg
    Ego
    Egypt
    Elder
    Elizabeth
    Empire
    End Times
    Environment
    Ephesians
    Epiphany
    Equality
    Eternal
    Ethics
    Ethiopian
    Eucharist
    Eugene Stockton
    Eunuch
    Evangelical
    Evangelism
    Evil
    Exile
    Exodus
    Exorcism
    Eyes
    Failure
    Fair Trade
    Faith
    Fame
    Family
    Fast
    Father
    Fathers Day
    Fear
    Fellowship
    Feminist
    Fire
    Fish
    Fishers
    Flesh
    Flora And Fauna
    Follow
    Foolish
    Footwashing
    Forgiveness
    Francis
    Franciscans
    Frederick Barker
    Freedom
    French
    Friend
    Fruit
    Fruits
    Fulfilment
    Fundamentalism
    Fundamentalist
    Funeral
    Galilee
    Galileo
    Game
    Garden
    Gate
    Gateshead
    Gay
    Gaze
    Gazelle
    Gender
    Gender Variant
    Genealogy
    Generosity
    Genesis
    Gentile
    Gentleness
    George Fox
    Gerard Manley Hopkins
    Gift
    Gil Bailie
    Glennie
    Glory
    God
    Golden Rule
    Good Friday
    Goodness
    Gospel
    Grace
    Graeme Rutherford
    Graham Warren
    Grandchild
    Gratefulness
    Great-commission
    Greenness
    Gregory-of-nyssa
    Growth
    Gungor
    Habel
    Haggai
    Happiness
    Harvest
    Headlam
    Healing
    Heart
    Hebrew
    Hebrews
    Hedgerows
    Helder Camara
    Hen
    Henri Nouwen
    Heresy
    Herod
    Hildegard
    History
    Holiness
    Holy Saturday
    Holy Spirit
    Holy Week
    Home
    Homophobia
    Hope
    Hosea
    Hospitality
    Humility
    Icon
    I Corinthians
    IDAHOT
    Imagine
    Immanence
    Incarnation
    Indigenous
    Indooroopilly
    Inspiration
    International Women's Day
    Interplay
    Intimacy
    Invitation
    Iona
    Isaiah
    Israel
    Jack-in-a-box
    Jacob
    James
    Jan Richardson
    Jar
    Jarowair And Giabal
    Jarrow
    Jeremiah
    Jerusalem
    Jester
    Jesus
    Jesus Christ
    Jewish
    Jews
    Jihad
    Joan Chittister
    Joel
    John
    John Coleman
    John Naish
    John O'Donohue
    John The Baptist
    Josef Zacek
    Joseph
    Josephine Butler
    Journey
    Joy
    Judaism
    Judas
    Judgement
    Julian Of Norwich
    Justice
    Kaleidoscope
    Katherine Appleby
    Keble
    KIerkegaard
    Kindness
    King
    Kingdom
    Kosuke Koyama
    Labyrinth
    Lamentations
    Land
    L'Arche
    Laughter
    Law
    Lazarus
    Leadership
    Leap
    Learning
    Legion
    Lent
    Leonard Cohen
    Leper
    Lesbian
    Levertov
    Levite
    LGBTI
    LGBTIQ
    Liberation
    Life
    Light
    Liminality
    Lincolnshire
    Lion
    Literalist
    Living Dance
    Living Stones
    London
    Longing
    Lord
    Lord's Prayer
    Love
    Love Of God
    Love Your Enemies
    Luke
    Luther
    Macrina
    Mad
    Magi
    Magnificat
    Mahatma Gandhi
    Manchester
    Manger
    Maori
    Maranoa
    Marcella Althaus-Reid
    Margaret Silf
    Marianne Williamson
    Mark
    Mark Copland
    Marriage
    Martha
    Martin Luther
    Martin Luther King
    Martyr
    Mary
    Mary Magdalene
    Mary Of Bethany
    Mary Poppins
    Mary Sumner
    Matthew
    Maundy Thursday
    MCC
    Meaning
    Meditation
    Meister Eckhart
    Mercy
    Messiah
    Michael Leunig
    Midwife
    Migrant
    Milton
    Ministry
    Minster
    Miracle
    Mission
    Moltmann
    Monastery
    Monk
    Morality
    Moses
    Mother
    Mothering
    Mother-in-law
    Mothers Union
    Mountain
    Multicultural
    Multifaith
    Music
    Muslim
    Mustard Seed
    Myrrh
    Myrrh Bearers
    Mystery
    Mystic
    Myth
    NAIDOC
    Nakedpastor
    Name
    Natalie Adams
    Nathaniel
    Nativity
    Neighbour
    Nelson-mandela
    Net
    New-age
    New Creation
    New Life
    New Zealand
    Nicodemus
    Noel Preston
    Nonjudgement
    Nonviolence
    Nungalinya
    Obedience
    Ocean
    Oil
    Ordination
    Orthodox
    Oscar Romero
    Overcoming Violence
    Oxford
    Pacific
    Pain
    Palestine
    Palm Sunday
    Parable
    Parent
    Parish
    Participation
    Party
    Pastor
    Patience
    Patrick
    Patrick Oliver
    Paul
    Peace
    Peacemaker
    Penitence
    Pentatonix
    Pentecost
    People Of God
    Perfume
    Persecution
    Perseverance
    Persistence
    Peter
    Peter Millar
    Pharaoh
    Pharisee
    Pharisees
    Philip
    Philippians
    Pilate
    Pilgrim
    Pilgrimage
    Pitt Street Uniting Church
    Plague
    Plato
    Poetry
    Politics
    Poor
    Pope
    Pope Francis
    Possibility
    Poverty
    Power
    Praise
    Prayer
    Preacher
    Presence
    President
    Pride
    Priest
    Prince Of Peace
    Proclamation
    Prophecy
    Prophet
    Prophet Mohammed
    Protecttion
    Protestant
    Providence
    Psalm
    Puppet
    Purification
    Purity
    Quaker
    Queer
    Rabbi
    Race
    Rachael Mann
    Racism
    Rage
    Raiinbow
    Rainbow
    Ramadan
    Reason
    Recapitulation
    Reconciliation
    Reformation
    Refugee
    Rejoice
    Relationship
    Religion
    Religious Experience
    Remembrance
    Repentance
    Resilience
    Rest
    Resurrection
    Revelation
    Revolution
    Richard Rohr
    Rich Young Man
    Righteousness
    Risk
    River
    Rock
    Roman
    Romans
    Rose
    Rowan Williams
    R.S Thomas
    R.S.Thomas
    Sabbath
    Sacrament
    Safety
    Saints
    Salt
    Salvation
    Samaritan
    Sanctus
    Sarah
    Sarah Bachelard
    Schism
    Schleiermacher
    School Of Hard Knocks
    Science
    Scotland
    Scott Stevens
    Scripture
    Sea
    Season Of Creation
    Second Coming
    Security
    See
    Seed
    Sermon The Mount
    Service
    Seth Godin
    Sex
    Shalom
    Shame
    Sheep
    Sheep And Goats
    Shepherd
    Silence
    Simeon
    Sin
    Sinner
    Slavery
    Soil
    Solidarity
    Son Of Man
    Soul
    Sower
    Spirit
    Spiritual
    Stan Grant
    Stewardship
    St Francis College
    Stillness
    St Luke's
    St Mary's In Exile
    Storm
    Story
    Subversion
    Success
    Suffering
    Suffering Servant
    Sunflower
    Sydney
    Synagogue
    Syro-Phoenician
    Tabitha
    Table Fellowship
    Taize
    Talents
    Tall Poppy
    Tears
    Teenager
    Temple
    Temptation
    Tennyson
    Test
    Thanksgiving
    The Glennie School
    Theodicy
    Theology
    Theosis
    The Way
    Thomas
    Thomas Berry
    Thomas Merton
    Threshold
    Thunderbirds
    Tillich
    Time
    Tomb
    Toowoomba
    Torres
    Torres Strait
    Tractarian
    Tradition
    Transcendence
    Transfiguration
    Transformation
    Transgender
    Transition
    Treasure
    Tree
    Trinity
    Trump
    Trust
    Truth
    T.S.Eliot
    Tufty
    Tutu
    Tweed
    Tyne
    Unity
    Universe
    Usury
    Vanstone
    Veridiitas
    Victory
    Violence
    Virgin Mary
    Virgins
    Vision
    Voice
    Waiters Union
    Waiting
    Wales
    Walking
    War
    Warrego
    Warsaw
    Watch
    Water
    Wear
    Wedding
    Weeds
    Welcome
    Wellspring
    Widow
    Wilderness
    Willliam Blake
    Wind
    Wine
    Winston Halapua
    Wisdom
    Woe
    Wolf
    Woman
    Womb
    Women
    Wonder
    Wontulp-Bi-Buya
    Word Of God
    World Council Of Churches
    World Youth Day
    Wounds
    Woy Woy
    Wrestling
    Yahweh
    Yoke
    Zacchaeus

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly