LEARNING HOW TO PRAY:
TWO GOOD QUESTIONS
INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily for this 33 Monday in Ordinary Time is, “Learning How to
Pray: Two Good Questions.”
SURVEYS
In various surveys that ask people what they want us to preach
about from the pulpit, I’ve noticed people want stuff on spirituality and stuff on how to pray.
This homily will give one more lesson on how to pray.
So the title of my homily is, “Learning How to Pray: Two Good Questions.”
THE FIRST QUESTION
The first question is in today’s gospel: And Jesus said, “What can I do for
you?”
The blind man of Jericho
wanted to see, so he called out to Jesus to take pity on him. He had heard
Jesus was walking by. So Jesus heard him yelling and stopped to ask him, “What can I do for you?”
And the blind man answered the obvious, “I want to see.”
So, if you want one more lesson on how to pray, there it is. Find
yourself in your place of prayer - whether its in church or in the Eucharistic
chapel, whether it’s in a Lazy Boy chair or at the kitchen table. Wherever, whenever, you pray, in your good
place of prayer, car, church, chapel or chair - after acknowledging God’s
presence, hear Jesus asking you, “What can I do for you?”
That’s the first question.
It’s like the salesperson at Nordstrom’s or a waitress or
waiter at Macaroni Grill coming up to us and asking, “What can I do for you?”
Or “What can I get you?” Or “What do you want?” Or "What are you looking for?"
So picture yourself praying. Picture Jesus asking us, “What can
I do for you?”
What would you answer?
Would it be, “I want more patience.” Or “I want to be more
understanding.” Or “I want a better attitude towards my son-in-law.” Or “I want
to love more.” Or, “I want to laugh
more.” Or, “I want to pray better.”
THE SECOND
QUESTION
The second question is not in the Scriptures as is, but here
it is, Ask God: “What can I do for You?”
and then listen. Then pause. Then be quiet as you sit there in prayer.
Then hear what Jesus says to you. It might be words like the following:
“Did you ever thinking of visiting that old lady two doors
down. Nobody seems to visit her.”
“Did you ever think of really listening to so and so and not
just being silent with her and then running?”
“Did you ever think you might be much happier if you stopped
whining and complaining and you started celebrating each day of life as it
comes - with a joyful spirit?”
"Did you eve take me serious when I said, ‘Stop to see the birds of the air and the lilies of
the field. Okay it’s November. Well see the squirrels and hear the crunch of
crisp brown leaves on the ground when kids love to pounce through the leaves or
kick them up in the air or fall into them.’?”
CONCLUSION
So today’s homily provides a lesson plan on how to pray and
I gave two good questions;
1) Hearing God or Jesus saying to us, “What can I do for
you?”
2) Hearing ourselves asking God, “Hey God, what can I do for
you?”
