The story so far… I am preparing a sermon on the theme of “A people of prayer” to be preached on February 9th 2020 at St Mark’s Staplefield Common. The readings are:
Matthew 6:5-8
and 1Thessalonians 5:16-28.
On Day 1 I recorded my initial impressions of the theme and the two set readings.
So let’s look at our readings:
Matthew 6:5-8
The context is practising righteousness to impress others. I recall seeing a description of integrity (or morality) as doing the right thing when nobody is looking.
Chapter 6 starts with giving secretly, then moves on to prayer. It describes people praying ostentatiously on street corners or in the Synagogue. Then goes on to the Lord’s Prayer, quietly, with an economy of words, and secretly in your room.
Then moves on to fasting, treasure in heaven, trusting God, and not judging others.
So the context is always going to be about personal prayer rather than corporate prayer. It doesn’t denigrate or make any judgement about corporate prayer; it just isn’t about corporate prayer.
1Thess 5: 16-28
This is about personal (and corporate?) behaviour. Rejoice, pray, give thanks. Paul treats these as lifestyle choices. We choose to rejoice and give thanks. We look for things to be thankful for; we count our blessings. We pray – there are always things we wish were different, and God knows our hearts. But choosing to share these things with God means we acknowledge God’s place in our lives, his power to change the world, and that is surely what he desires.
Do not quench the spirit, do not treat prophesy with contempt. Listen to God as well as talking to him. Prayer is a two-way conversation. If we babble continuously (see Matt 6) we are not listening. Our old rector used to say “Are you listening, or just waiting to speak?” Well, are you?
I searched in the Gospels in OliveTree Bible for the word ‘pray’, and got 29 hits, 6 of them in our passage, but spread across all 4 gospels.
Love your enemies and pray for them.
…he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.
…to place his hands on them and pray for them.
Sit here while I go over there and pray.
Watch and pray…
…should always pray and not give up.
I pray for them…
At first glance there seem to be two things here: Jesus goes away to pray by himself, in solitude. He also prays for specific other people, sometimes in their absence, sometimes when they are present, sometimes even laying hands on them.
