Living in the Presence

Franciscan monk Richard Rohr writes, “Prayer is not primarily saying words or thinking thoughts. It is, rather, a stance. It’s a way of living in the Presence. It is, further, a way of living in awareness of the Presence, even enjoying the Presence. The full contemplative is not just aware of the Presence, but trusts, allows, and delights in it.”

As far as I can tell, the disciples never asked Jesus to teach them how to preach, teach, or perform miracles–though I suspect those who had seen him perform that water-to-wine trick probably spent much of their time pestering him for the secret. What it seems they did ask him to teach them was how to pray. I’d wager that they noticed his habit of going off by himself to pray when he wasn’t blessing, healing, and eating with folks. They probably suspected that much of Jesus’ passion and faithfulness had something to do with his regular prayer life. 

Perhaps the most frequent question I have received in my ministry is some variation on, “How do I pray?” So this week’s devotions are going to be little snippets of different types of prayer. There is no one-size-fits-all method of prayer. We were all made differently, and have different life experiences and different spiritual gifts. This week I’ll give you short introductions to centering prayer, the examen prayer, lectio divina, and the liturgy of the hours. I’ll provide you with a short, guided experience in each to begin your day (or end it, I don’t know when you read these emails!). 

I’m not sure of a better place to begin this week than with the words of Christ, so I offer you this scripture to meditate on and pray through as we embark on a week of prayer:

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

-Matthew 6:5-15


Rev. Ryan Young