One constant that rises from the pages of both Hebrew testament and Christian witness is God’s call to prayer. Individually and communally, in times of danger and despair, in times of joyful celebration, at the top of our lungs and in the intimacy of silence – God invites and encourages us to pray. It has been said there are as many ways to pray as there are people. Entire prayers have become traditions in the faith that we intone in unison. And we pray extemporaneously, in the immediacy of the moment, as the Spirit moves us. Some prayers are filled with words addressed to God, while others are literally prayed within us, by the very Spirit of God, when life takes us beyond words. Prayer is as much felt as expressed; as much listening as speaking.
I must confess this divinely inspired act, this spiritual discipline that is prayer, is at once entirely familiar and supremely mysterious to me, and to a good many people I talk with. Is the use and intent of prayer to change the circumstances of life, or to change the one in the midst of those circumstances? Is it dialogue or pure presence, or both? And what constitutes the answer to prayer that we seek?
Despite all our questions, God calls us to be a people of prayer. Isaiah speaks God’s truth for the world: “My house shall be a house of prayer for the nations,” for all people. (Isaiah 56:7) The Hebrew word “beyth” which is translated here as “house” may be better understood as household, or even family. God is saying something foundational about people and about prayer. First, the “house,” the temple, the church, is not a building; it’s people. And second, this household of God is literally built of prayer. Our identity and unity as people of faith is founded on and built of the intimate presence with God that is the gift of prayer. And this household – this family – is open to anyone and everyone who wishes to enter into that presence!
We are delving deeply into the mystery prayer during the month of June. In worship and study, in reflection and practice, we will embrace this gift from God and grow deeper in understanding what it means to be God’s house of prayer.
Pr. Brad Highum
