Week of February 12, 2012
Resources for Mission: Prayers and Presences – Risking Your Time
Theme/Title: Prayer Power and Being Present
Scripture: Mark 11: 22-25; James 5: 13-16 & Acts 2: 43-47
Media: YouTube “God help the outcasts”
Reflection:
Jesus in Mark’s gospel and James in his letter both are trying to tell us something about prayer. It is critical to our lives of faith and it is indispensable as a community. How can we achieve our mission objective of boldly shaping partners of God for the transformation of the world? By employing all the tools and resources we have and among these is prayer. Esmeralda in Disney’s “Hunchback” finds herself in the cathedral of Notre Dame and she is moved to speak to God. She prays a prayer that picks up so much of what prayer is about. A conversation with God about what’s most important in life. An important aspect of this prayer is its focus on the needs of others.
Prayer is central to our life of faith and our life as a community of faith. James attests to this in our passage this week. Prayer is one of the most powerful and effective tools we have in our effort to be all God wants and needs us to be. We pray for strength to do what needs doing, for guidance to know what we are to do, for inspiration to keep ourselves going, for forgiveness when we miss the mark, and offer thanks for all that we are blessed with. We pray for others that they may find their way, that they may be healed and comforted, that their needs might be met, and that they might experience a deeper relationship with God. Through prayer we call God’s attention to what we feel is vital and important in our lives and the lives of others and seek God’s insight and inspiration for living out our faith and accomplishing our mission.
Because we believe in God, because we are part of the Christian faith, because we know God’s heart and the values of our faith tradition we understand the critical nature of being present. But this presence is so much more than just being physically in a place. When we are present as people of faith we are present physically, mentally, spiritually and psychologically and we are involved in this holistic way in the events, programs, ministries and worship experiences of our community. But presence also means being present wherever we are as God’s representatives. Living the life of faith you cannot “take off” your faithfulness, you’re partnering with God, when you don’t feel like being a partner it doesn’t work like that. Being God’s partner is 24/7. The world needs us to be present so that God can be present so that the world may be transformed. Risk your time – God and the world need it!
Meditation:
Have you experienced the power of prayer in your life? Have you known of a time when your prayers made a difference for someone else? When do you feel most connected to God? How do you understand prayer and how do you use prayer? Has there been a time in your life when being with other faithful people helped you? Has anyone ever shared that having your presence with them made a difference?
Prayer:
Sit in silence for a few minutes and listen to what God might be saying. Pray for those who need your prayers. Pray for yourself. Ask God to give you strength to be the presence needed in your family, work place, school and world. Commit to being present whenever you can in all the ways you can.
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