CHURCH, WHAT’S YOUR JOB?

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.