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Holy Cross Abbey

901 Cool Spring Lane Berryville, Virginia 22611

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Fr. James’ Homily for the Seventeenth Sunday of the Year, 24 July, 2016

July 24, 2016 by James

Readings: Genesis 18:20-32; Colossians 2:12-14; Luke 11:1-13

If I’m expecting esoteric teaching on prayer from the New Testament, I’m going to be disappointed. If I want something for the elite, I’d have to look elsewhere.

Of course, I’d be pretty pretentious to appropriate anything elitist when I still have so much work to do on the basics. However, if I want depth, there’s plenty in what Jesus teaches about prayer.

We Christians can be criticized for always praying for things. OK, that could be selfish and childish. But is that all that’s happening?

If I pray to God, your kingdom come, how selfish is that? In fact, if I really pray your kingdom come, aren’t I threatening everything self-absorbed about myself? Might I not even judge and condemn my attitudes and deeds? Not all of them–like anyone here, I’m not so consistent and single-minded to be perfectly evil. Even my sins will be imperfectly sinful, mixed with good intentions and even kindnesses!

How out of control I am! Are any of us ever really in control? Don’t I really look foolish when I try to be in control?

How much can I ever do for myself?

Is God actually trying to put me down? Or set me free? Over and over again, in the process of really praying, isn’t God stripping away illusions and calling me to be so much more than I’m ready to be?

Isn’t it a privilege to be asked to pray for someone’s needs as a way to learn God’s will in those needs? Isn’t it so freeing to be humbled by standing with empty hands before God?

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