Dan
Greenburg in his book “How to Make Yourself Miserable” suggests if readers have
a sincere desire to make life miserable for themselves, they might learn to
compare themselves to other people.
It
seems that, as human beings, we just can’t help ourselves and it starts at a
young age! Many years ago I used to
coach little league football. It was
midway into the season when a young player came up to me as we were preparing
for a game to explain to me how much better a player he was compared to his
team mates that I could not win the game without him. REALLY!
It was then that I announced his very special position for the game, to
his and his parents’ great dissatisfaction, the end of the bench. It was a hard lesson for this young player. That season our team had a perfect 10-0
record.
A
similar drama is played out in today’s Gospel.
The Pharisee takes up his prayer position and lists his credentials before
God, “I fast twice a week and I pay tithes on my whole income.” (Lk 18:12) Good stuff, but he had to start out with the
comparison, “I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity…” (Lk 18:11),
especially this tax collector.
Want
in on a secret? Credentials do not
impress God, but humility gets God’s attention.
You see, I believe our team had a perfect season because every coach was
persistent, consistent, and encouraging in explaining player assignments, players
knew their role and how their gifts and faithful performance fit for the
greater good of the team. Winning just
became the natural consequence to performing well and trusting that their team
mates had the same humble vision and goal.
Let
me give you an example of how a pre-game preparation would sound like:
Coach: Outside linebacker, what’s your
job?
Player: Containment. Go straight in 5
yards, find the ball, and chase the play.
Coach: Nose guard, what’s your job?
Player: Watch the ball, when it moves
knock the center on their butt.
I
believe Christianity is also a team sport.
Too often we tend to make religion/church a “just Jesus and me walk”
which can lead us down the path to comparing ourselves to others, even slipping
into judging others without even knowing them or their situation. The Trinity (Father, Son, & Spirit) is the
Christian model of unity; we were created for each other. We are called to a humble responsibility to
each other. How? Prayer.
As our Sunday readings remain focused on prayer, we need to remember last
week’s Gospel reading encouraged us to be “persistent in prayer”.
So
a Christian’s pre-game preparation might sound like this:
· When
I see a person dozing off in church, maybe during the homily; PRAY: Lord may
their ears and heart, hear your sweet voice.
· When
I hear the emergency vehicles passing by; PRAY: May the vehicles find a clear
path to those in need and may those in need may know your loving presence.
· When
I’m feeling judged; PRAY: My Lord you formed me in your perfect image and
gifted me uniquely. I Trust in You.
The
Church’s job is Persistent & humble prayer. This gets God’s attention; perpetual prayer
in praise and thanksgiving for His many graces he showers on us; laments for
the challenging times of tribulations that help us grow in faith; intercessory petitions
for the needs of so many others who have asked for our prayers. The author of Sirach tells us that, “The
prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds, it does not rest till it reaches its
goal, nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds …” (Sir 35:17-18)
There
is no doubt in my mind that this community has received many graces because of our
faithfulness to Perpetual Adoration. For
17 years many parishioners have dedicated themselves to an around the clock vigil,
spending an hour before the Exposed Lord in prayer. Our adorer pool is showing signs of time;
aging, health issues, travel, and jobs have made it difficult to maintain
enough adorers to staff two people in the chapel, especially in the later hours
between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. We are
inviting you to join the many of us in our persistent prayer life for our
community. Spend an hour a week, every
other week, a month. Do it as a family, do
it as a small church community, women of faith, men’s discipleship group, but do
it. Make a prayer commitment. For me it has been a tremendous experience
where I get to be most intimate with my Lord and Savior. Once a week Judy and I spend time in the
Adoration Chapel, together, yet in separate conversations with Jesus. For me, it is the wisest hour spent in my
work week. When you ask me to pray for
you, I bring them to my Adoration hour and present your needs to Jesus.
Church, what’s your job?
Persistent, perpetual, and humble prayer.
