Scripture: John 17:6-9

I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.

Consider:

On the stairwell of my house growing up was an faded picture in a ornate gilt frame. In it was a picture of a man we called “faded 50’s Jesus” - it was the back side of Jesus’ head with long flowing brown locks, neatly trimmed beard, with a long, floor length tunic and sash. He’s sitting on a rock overlooking the city, hands folded in prayer.

As kids we made a lot of fun of Mom’s honestly kind of tacky portrait hanging in the middle of the stairwell. Every once in a while we’d bump into it going down the stairs and Jesus would sway back and forth precariously, a little bit of a roller coaster ride for the Holy One to enjoy. We hoped it added a little spice to his day.

Looking back on that picture as an adult, I still think it’s kind of tacky. However, I also think it is a powerful image because in it Jesus is not doing anything but looking over the world and praying. There’s no preaching, feeding or healing, just prayer. Prayer long and abiding, constant for the beloved children of God.

I wonder if we don’t give prayer a little bit of a short shrift. I wonder if we don’t think of prayer as too idle, not “accomplishing” anything, not productive enough to focus on.

And yet, in this last prayer of his earthly life, Jesus promises to do nothing but pray. Nothing but watch over his disciples. Nothing but sit and look over the city.

Maybe prayer should be moved up the spiritual discipline food chain, because if Jesus is content to do it for the rest of time on our behalf, we can spend a few moments each day looking over the city with him.

Respond:

What does prayer look like for you? If you haven’t found a sustainable prayer life, try a different method. Maybe sitting and talking to God doesn’t work for you, but taking a walk and talking to God does. Maybe walking doesn’t work, but painting does.

Try on a few different styles of contemplation and see if you can find the one that “fits” your life and attitude the best, so you can create and sustain a meaningful prayer life.

Pray:

Lord, help me to pray. That’s it. Just help me to see and remember how important prayer is for the shaping and guiding of my life and to see time spent with you as important, valuable, and essential to our daily life. Amen.

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