Tidings for Tuesday
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, the other a publican. Luke 18:10
An organization in the City of Saint John used to – and maybe still does – hold an event every year to raise money for disadvantaged children. Called the poor-boy luncheon, the event is a meal of beans and weiners, and those who show up pay a substantial price for a paper plate-serving of the humble fare. A jolly, good-natured atmosphere prevails at the poor-boy luncheon, as bank presidents and society hi-brows mingle and munch beside sales clerks and students. As I arrived for the start of the event, large lineups of folks stood and waited as huge kettles of beans and weiners were carried to the serving table. Suddenly, a man with a backward collar raised his hand. The crowd fell silent, and the cleric offered a brief prayer of thanks for the food. As he concluded, almost everyone there uttered a hearty Amen! And I thought to myself, that there are times when just about everybody prays, Pharisee to publican. But who does God hear?
We know the answer in the parable that Jesus told. The professional prayer-maker uttered words that scarcely made it to the rafters, while the plea of the disgraceful tax collector caused the corridors of Heaven to ring with the cheers of rejoicing angels. Be assured that the same Heaven that thrills to hear the cry of repentance also delights in the honest and simple prayers of its citizens who are still on their way Home.
God doesn’t pay attention to every prayer that is made, just as He heard nothing worthy of His attention in the Pharisee’s prayer. Religious folks around us chant prayers by rote. In fact, the mohammedans have a fanatic pattern of ritualistic prayers that make the Pharisees look slack. But they pray to a different god from the One who we serve. Maybe their god hears them, but what can he do? Catholics pray to Mary and to long-dead saints who are far beyond the ability to help anyone. Creeds and catechisms and other formal and printed utterances abound, coming from page and tongue but not heart. But God notes only those prayers of His own dear children.
Many millions of prayers were made today on our planet. Were yours among them? Unlike so many other prayers, yours at least had a chance of being heard by the Almighty. -Jim MacIntosh