Pastor's Note

GENEROSITY IN PRAYER
October 28th, 2007

In one of my favorite novels, “Death Comes for the Archbishop,” by Willa Cather, one of the priests keeps a list of all those he has promised to pray for. Through the years, the list gets longer and most of the people on the list have died. At one point he asks the bishop how long he has to continue to pray for them. In other words, when does someone ‘get taken off’ the list?
There are many people who receive the Parish Prayer List through their email. The requests are varied. Many times we pray for sick people, other times for those going through emotional problems and dealing with family crises. Fortunately, people often write a later note on line to let us know how someone is doing after our prayer.
I don’t think people are stingy with their prayers in any conscious sense. But people sometimes don’t want ‘one more obligation.’ Or they don’t realize the power of people coming together in prayer.
It’s easy to discount the significance of prayer, perhaps because we don’t always see the immediate results. Theologically, some people wonder if our prayer is trying to ‘change God’s mind.’ But Jesus himself told his disciples to pray always, to not be afraid to knock on the door.
Not all prayer is prayer of petition. Sometimes our prayer is just drawing ourselves into the presence of the Lord, sitting with our God. For me, that is the most restorative of all prayer. The power that comes from those moments is incredible. Once again, though, it is necessary for me to be generous with time and effort, for it to happen.
As is the case with all stewardship, when we are good stewards of prayer, whatever we give to God and in God’s name always returns to us in greater abundance. God’s generosity cannot be outdone!