Lord, Teach us to Pray (Continued)

In my previous entry, LORD,TEACH US TO PRAY, we looked at the words of the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples, and us, to use.

We saw the promise from Jesus that the Father would send the HOLY SPIRIT to those who ask. We also noted the key phrase that is in one, but not both, of the Gospel texts. That phrase is “THY WILL BE DONE”.

__________

We look now at some examples of the wonderful things that happen for those who really mean what these four words imply. There is grace, peace and power in them. Some of these people say it in different words – or in actions, not in words. Nevertheless, their intention is clear. They are willing to subordinate their own plans to the will of God.

From the Hebrew scriptures, we explore the story of  Abraham, Sarah, and eventually of Isaac.

In the Genesis 12 we read God’s promise to Abram:1The Lord said to Abram: “Go forth from your land, your relatives, and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. 2I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you”

Abram was seventy years old when he went as the Lord directed him – to the Land of Caanan. He is, chosen by God to be the patriarch of God’s Holy People. But Abram and Sarah are getting older. We all know the story. God repeated the promise in chapter 15 and reinforced it with a covenant. Abram accepted that covenant.

Abram’s story has another plot line. We’ll look at that one later. We’ll look first at Abraham (Abram) at his best. He gets the order from God that he should offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God. To us, this doesn’t seem to fit into the promise of a “great nation”. Still Abraham doesn’t show any hesitancy. He starts out to do what’s been asked of him. God orders him to stop before it’s too late.

In the other plot lime, the scriptures tell us about the drama of Hagar and Ishmael. Abram is now 90 years old, and Hagar has been sent away with her son. God repats the promise and the covenant. Abram, now re-named by God as “Abraham” accepts circumcision as a sign of the covenant. Then Abraham and Sarah have their son, Isaac – the promised heir and forefather of the Nation. The grace intended by God does come to His people through Abraham, through Isaac and his descendants.

__________

In 1 Samuel we have the story of Elkana, his wife Hannah, their son Samuel, and the priest/prophet  Eli.

In 1 Samuel 9 we read Hannah’s prayer:10 In her bitterness she prayed to the Lord, weeping freely, 11 and made this vow: “O Lord of hosts, if you look with pity on the hardship of your servant, if you remember me and do not forget me, if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life.”

The prayer is answered; the wish is granted. Hannah and Elkana really understand that the baby conceived and born after this prayer has been born in accordance with God’s will. After the baby is weaned, she fulfills her promise without doubting or hesitating. Samuel becomes a student, later a prophet in the school and house of Eli.

Samuel, as prophet, hears God’s call, visits the house of Jesse, obeys God’s directions and annoints David as the King. That was all as God planned it. God’s grace came to His people through Elkana, Hannah and Samuel, and through David.

Unfortunately, history tells us of the ways that God’s plan was misdirected over the following years. The actions of mankind went off-course because David and his successors repeatedly acted without regard to God’s will. In spite of those failings later, we have to say that Elkana, Hannah and Samuel did their part in the plan. Their submission to God’s will brought grace from God to His people.

__________

The Church holds up our Mother, Mary, as the most excellent example of a mortal human in total submission to God’s will. She says it explicitly, after hearing the angel’s answer to her one question, “How can this be?” Her response is ,“Let it be done to me according to your word.” From that point forward, she never hesitated; she never interfered; she never wrote her own plans. She trusted that God would provide for her needs and the needs of her Child. Infinite (literally infinite) grace came into the world as the result of Mary’s acceptance of God’s will and God’s plan.

Joseph should also be included here. He was confused at the start. The same angel came to him and explained what was happening. Joseph accepted his part in the plan once he knew what his part was to be. There is nothing to suggest that he ever doubted God’s will while serving as protector and provider for the Divine Child and His mother. Grace came to the world through his acceptance of God’s will

__________

Far above us “ordinary” people, we have to look at Jesus in the Garden. There is no better example and no stronger statement for us to emulate than His resignation to the will of the Father, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will." That leads to His arrest, trial, torture and to His glorious and grace-filled Resurrection.

__________

In our own times, we can look at Blessed (soon to be Saint) Carlo Acutis and his mom.

At the age of fifteen years and five months, Carlo was diagnosed with a severe form of leukemia. He died just twelve days later.

From an early age he was outstanding as a very dedicated Catholic. Sometimes he was the object of ridicule, so common among ignorant adolescent boys.

He taught in the Religious Education program at his parish when he was twelve years old. He prayed the rosary daily from age seven. He attended daily Mass and received the Eucharist daily as soon as he was able to go to church on his own. His devotion and holiness converted some of the family’s household staff and brought some family members closer to God. He started cataloging miracles associated with the Eucharist, as well as apparitions of the Blessed Mother. He also played soccer and video games. He used his technology skills to assemble his catalogs.

When it became clear that his disease was terminal he told him mother, “Mom, don't be afraid. Since Jesus became a man, death has become the passage towards life, and we don't need to flee it. Let us prepare ourselves to experience something extraordinary in the eternal life.”

He accepted God’s will. His Mom must have prayed more than once for healing; it’s not documented, but it’s hard to believe that she didn’t pray for healing.

What she did, though, was to pick up where he left his unfinished work on the Eucharistic Miracles. That traveling display has toured several countries. Worldwide, many are drawn to the traveling display, motivated by the story of Carlo’s life and death. It has triggered more and more reflection by Catholics, by non-Catholic Christians, and by many members of other faiths or of no faith.

Carlo’s story, even with an ending that many would call tragic, has brought grace to the world.

__________

Let’s  also see what can go wrong when the person doesn’t really mean it or loses trust in God.

Abram and Sarah are concerned. They’re getting older; the chances of her becoming pregnant are getting smaller. Sarah suggests, and Abraham agrees, that he should try to father a child with Hagar, Sarah’s servant. He does that, and Hagar’s son is born and named Ishmael.

Notice that there is Isaac, as God wanted. Grace came to the people, ultimately to all of Creation, through the actions of Abraham and Sarah.

Still, there is also Ishmael, who is the result of mankind’s own choice to act, not fully trusting in God. It’s worth noting that many scholars of Islam profess their descent from Abraham through Ishmael. We can only wonder what the world might be like without that claim by those people.

Let’s look at these events as a pattern for others, and for us:

1.      God makes His intention known to mankind.

2.      Mankind accepts their assigned role in God’s plan.

3.      Mankind starts to become uncertain; their faith weakens.

4.      Mankind’s actions, arising from that weakness of faith, can misdirect God’s plan.

5.      God’s plan for us fulfilled in the end.

__________

Some of us may  remember a hymn called “Peace is Flowing Like a River”. It goes like this:

“Peace is flowing like a river
Flowing out across the sea.
Peace is flowing like a river,
flowing out though you and me,
flowing out into the desert,
setting all the captives free”

We might consider a second verse, with the word GRACE replacing peace in this verse. Grace and peace are so often found together.

Let each of us hold on to that vision, as we accept God’s will along with the grace and peace that come with that acceptance. Let that peace and grace of God flow out through you and me.

AMEN