Teach me to pray ~ "Jesus appears before God on our behalf" Hebrews 9: 24

Christ did not enter into a sanctuary 

made by hands,

a copy of the true one, 

but heaven itself,

that he might now appear before God

on our behalf.

Hebrews 9:  24

Oh wow...Praise God, huh?

‘made by hands’

Our hands?

‘a copy of the true one’

How do I view ‘the true one’?

How do I hope ‘the true one’ is...might be...should be?

How do I work my hands to build a copy of God’s ‘true one’?

Why do I work to build a copy of God’s ‘true one’?

‘on our behalf’

THAT’S it!

‘on   our   behalf’

Oh wow...Praise God, huh?

‘on

our

behalf’

Read that again.

Please pray with me.

I raise Prayer Questions.

I find it is very easy 

  for these Prayer Questions 

                 to enter my mind

                 to enter my heart:

You really didn’t see me until now, God?

You really were not with me until now, God?

You really didn’t hear me until now, God?

You really didn’t understand me until now, God?

I anticipate Prayer Questions God raises:

You really didn’t see Me until now, My child?

You really were not with Me until now, My child?

You really didn’t hear Me until now, My child?

You really didn’t understand Me until now, My child?

Ah man…

I’m going somewhere some may challenge…

   That’s alright.

I’ve been challenged by others before.

   I hope I challenge my own thoughts and feelings 

   with as much vigor…

or simplicity…

   as another challenges me.

With that said…

Pray with me.

What is it like to interact with another in unconditional love?

Is unconditional love forgiveness?

My prayer explores these questions.  

I am kinda lost here.  

        Do I quote myself here or invite you to read earlier posts?

Garden of Eden

Triumph of the Cross

Transfiguration
  Canaanite Woman

Curing the Bethsaida Man

See, I feel with my whole being that God 'learned' as much about us while Emmanuel...

See, I hope with my whole being that I learned with my whole being about God while Emmanuel...

I think I’ll leave this here.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Peace.

Jars of Clay lyrics "There Might Be A Light" and Song of Songs ~ in my heart, on my mind, in my life

The Second Chapter in Song of Songs

starting with the 8th line...

Hark! my lover-here (my lover) comes

springing across the mountains,

leaping across the hills.

My lover is like a gazelle

or a young stag.

Here (my lover) stands behind our wall,

gazing through the windows,

peering through the lattices.

My lover speaks; (and) says to me,

"Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,

and come!

"For see, the winter is past,

the rains are over and gone.

The flowers appear on the earth,

the time of pruning the vines has come,

and the song of the dove is heard in our land.

The fig tree puts forth its figs,

and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.

Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,

and come!

"O my dove in the clefts of the rock,

in the secret recesses of the cliff,

Let me see you,

let me hear your voice,

For your voice is sweet,

and you are lovely."

Catch us the foxes, the little foxes

that damage the vineyards; for our vineyards are in bloom!

My lover belongs to me and I to (my lover);

(My lover) browses among the lilies.

Until the day breathes cool and the shadows lengthen,

roam, my lover,

Like a gazelle or a young stag

upon the mountains of Bether.

Ah man.

I cry.

I AM... Love

Pray with me.

I imagine our Triune God as the Gazelle when I hear Song of Songs with my heart.

I wonder why I love God sometimes from

behind my wall,

gazing through the windows,

peering through the lattices.

Pray with me.

I wonder why I sometimes hide from God

behind a wall...in the Garden's Trees...

I wonder why I sometimes choose to forget God

 comes looking for me

in The Garden...

"Where are you?  Why are you hiding?"

I wonder why I sometimes don't recognize God

when God waits for me outside the tomb

calling out to me by name...

"Mary, who are you looking for?"

Why am I afraid to be with

Emmanuel...

I pray I will always invite our Triune God into all I do.

I pray I will always seek our Triune God into all I feel.

I pray I will always feel our Triune God’s presence while I pray.

Pray with me.

I imagine I am the Gazelle when I hear Song of Songs with my heart.

I wonder why I keep God

behind a wall,

gazing through the windows,

peering through the lattices.

Ah man.

I cry.

Pray with me.

Remember The Transfiguration prayer I brought to the front so long ago...

Label:  transfiguration…

Peter, John and James wanted to build three tents for Jesus, Elijah and Moses.  

Pray with me.

I wonder why I sometimes place God

behind a wall...inside a tent...

I wonder why I sometimes keep God to myself...

box God in...

I wonder why I sometimes believe my wall built through my custom...

my culture...

my tradition...

my institution...
is the one true tent, box, walled courtyard.

I wonder why I sometimes choose to forget

the Canaanite Woman...

Why am I afraid of

Emmanuel...

I pray I will keep our Triune God free to express unconditional forgiveness.

I pray I will keep our Triune God’s creation alive.

I pray I will climb the wall, open the windows, clear the lattices.

Jars of Clay presented a concert in my town Halloween Weekend.  When I heard There Might be a Light I felt transported to my daily prayer in the second chapter of Song of Songs starting with the 8th line...

Jars of Clay ~  There Might be a Light

I wait outside your house

And sing below your window

And I look for the light to show, I know

I know that it will come on, come on, come on

Come on soon

There might be a light

Somewhere in your mind

When you think of you and I

I wait for it to shine

I know it will come on, come on, come on

Come on soon

It will come on, come on soon

And it's just the way things go

When you love someone and they don't know

Sparks and hearts, they have to glow

They just glow, they just glow

You know they just come on, 

come on, come on, come on

They just come on, come on, come on

There is no delusion, to you I don't exist

I am only shadow

Only a ghost can wait as

long as I have for this

And I, I can't wait much longer

'Cause there might be a light

Somewhere in your mind

When you think of you and I

I know there will be a light

It might not burn very strong

But I know it's coming on

It will come on, come on, come on

I sit back.  Breathe and feel my heart sigh...

Mark 10: 35-38 presents the Sons of Zebedee ~ in my heart, "Can I sit at your right hand?"

I ask myself the same question Jesus asked the law Scholar, "How do you read it?"  We prayed with that earlier ~ Teach me to pray ~ Encouragement before we share Exodus and the Canaanite Woman.  Remember that earlier post?


Scripture is read to me everyday.  I read Scripture everyday.  

I hear Scripture differently everyday because I am a different person everyday.

       Somedays I feel inexplicably happy.

       Somedays I feel melancholy.

       Somedays i feel boisterous.

       Somedays I feel quiet.

       Somedays I feel content.

       Somedays I feel mad as hell.
       Somedays I feel hurt.
       Somedays I feel I've hurt another.






I must remember Scripture was written in a different time.

I must remember those hearing Scripture in those different times had a very different world view:

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, 

"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."

He replied, 

"What do you wish (me) to do for you?"

They answered him,

 "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left."

Jesus said to them, 

"You do not know what you are asking.

~ Mark 10: 35-38

We must remember the folks around God while The Word Was Made Flesh did not have an appreciation...an understanding...a concept... for being in Heaven.  It was not part of their tradition.  "In your glory" RIGHT NOW...IN THIS TIME...WHILE YOU ARE FLESH...very likely means when you're sitting on the throne of our nation as king.

Today, I do have an appreciation for being in Heaven.  It is part of my tradition.  Since I get it, if you will, I casually read Mark as "In your glory in Pure Love in Heaven with God and all the saints."  I can easily chuckle at James' and John's naivete,  "You silly boys..."  and leave the Scripture alone.

BUT, to bring it home...to make it relevant to me NOW...to hear a pertinent lesson...

What are James and John actually asking?  How ‘bout…

“Jesus, when you become King...when you drive out the Romans with the armies you raise and train...Can I be, say...you’re Secretary of State or your Prime Minister.”

"Jesus, when you become supreme priest...when you really put the Sanhedrin and it's Scribes...the Pharisees and the Sadducees in their place...Can I be, say...on the Supreme Court?"

Concrete   measurable   places   of   honor.

Everyone   will  know   I   am   important.

Ah man.  Now this Scriptural Passage presents a lesson to me today.  Because I do this today.  I bring an agenda to the table when I am with someone.  It is human nature.  It is exercising Free Will.  It is extremely human.  I don’t believe we can help it;  BUT, we can be aware of it. But, we can make an adjustment to our attitude.  Like Jesus did with the Canaanite Woman.

Jesus challenges us to be aware of it, “You don’t know what you’re asking.”

Here’s a parable:

I plan to join the new organization at my church called, THE BEST SERVICE and SOCIAL ORGANIZATION EVER ~ BSSOE.  EVERYONE who is ANYONE at my church is is signing up with BSSOE.  I can make a ton of contacts for work.  And, I will be invited to the best parties.  And, I will be well on my way to being elected to the Church Council.

However, I missed the whole meaning of the word "SERVICE" in the title.  It means volunteering a lot of time serving at a soup kitchen.  It means volunteering a lot of time stuffing envelops.  It means going to a lot of meetings.  It means answering a call to drive another member to a doctor’s appointment.  It means…

Pray with me.

What do you think?  What is your take?  How do you apply this Scripture Passage to your life?  

Jesus tells the  Zebedee boys   like   it   is:

“Can you drink the cup that I drink or 

be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"

Jesus tells me   like   it   is:

NOT ONE MEMBER became my client.

I went to two parties:  one played music i didn't like all night and 
the other served food I didn't like.

I did not get elected to the Church Council.

I get called every month to serve at the soup kitchen.  UGH...every month!

I had to bring that guy to his doctor's appointment.  I hope I don't catch what he's got.

That paper cut still hasn't healed.
Those meetings are scheduled during CSI: Miami.  I haven't seen one episode in months.

Here's a question: Is there an advantage, then, knowing we have the reality of Heaven?

Heaven is a given, for me.  Remember our earlier prayer in The Garden?  

God comes to us asking, "Where are you?" Even knowing what we did.  

Jesus waits for us at the tomb asking us by name, 

"Mary, who are you looking for?"  

Even after we humiliated him, denied knowing him, scourged him, nailed him to a tree.

My challenge to knowing the reality of Heaven is I can chuckle at others naive interactions to Jesus and leave it at that.  I can sail through Scripture without listening to my heart...without reading Scripture with God is Love...without listening to Scripture with Emmanuel.


So, I believe another attitude affecting how I read...listen...to Scripture is in the questions, "Do I live to get into Heaven?", and, "Am I accepting Jesus' challenge, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand...within you...right now? in other words, "Do I live to bring Heaven at hand...within me and you...right now?", "Am I living Emmanuel ~ God Is With Us, or I will be with God after I am dead?".

As I shared in an earlier post, I wear an I Minus knotted and tied around my left wrist.  One of those knots symbolizes Chastity, if you will:  I pray I will greet another agenda free.  Does that vow work for me?  Ah man...

The Canaanite Woman ~ in my prayer

Ah man…

Here we go…again...

I  call  The  Canaanite  Woman
  Jesus’  spiritual  director.

Yesterday my prayer helped me explore the idea...the tradition...my heart...of sin and with sin.

I was challenged on retreat, as i've said ~ repeatedly...ah man...sorry 'bout that ~ because it sounds like I suggest that Jesus sins in the story.

I hold Jesus did initially respond to the Canaanite Woman through the tradition he understood:  She is an outsider.  I hold Jesus did initially respond through the tradition he understood:  The First to be tended are the "lost sheep of (The Chosen)."

Jesus' response to her is in accordance with the popular consensus. Subsequently 'righteous', if you will in the eyes of the crowd.  No sin.

Now, here is the lesson in the story for me supported by Hebrews 4: 15.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable 
to sympathize with our weaknesses, 

but one who has similarly been 
tested in every way, 
yet without sin.

Jesus understands Human Free Will because Jesus lived with Human Free Will.  Jesus can sympathize with our weaknesses.  Jesus' Human Free Will was tested in every way.  Jesus' attitude was adjusted.  Jesus was without sin in God is Love.

I  call  The  Canaanite  Woman
  Jesus’  spiritual  director.

The Canaanite Woman challenged the popular tradition Jesus lived.  Jesus heard her.  Jesus' attitude adjusted...

Jesus was tempted to follow the tradition of recognizing a CHOSEN people.  Jesus' new knowledge came from the fruit of a different tree.  Jesus ate.  Jesus glorified God with his new knowledge in...through...with God is Love.  God is Love unconditionally.

ALL are CHOSEN.

Wow...ah man...

I cry.

Breathe.

I pray I will always hear another's prayer.



I pray (my soul) will leap in (my) womb, and be filled with the Holy Spirit always when I am greeted by another.



I pray I will always feel God's Love through another person.



I pray (my soul) will leap in (my) womb, and be filled with the Holy Spirit always when I am with another.



I pray I will always live God is Love.



I pray (others' souls) will leap in (their) wombs, and be filled with the Holy Spirit always when I greet them.


Let's sit back.  Feel our hearts beat.  Breathe and sigh...

Teach me to pray ~ I am going at it again, Brothers and Sisters!

Bless your hearts for reading this.  Again, I am inviting you to Exodus and the Canaanite Woman.  Man, I am really setting myself up!

Remember the earlier Tower of Babel post?  Try this:

While working today ~ preparing breakfast, getting the kids ready for school, walking down the hall to the Chapter Room, riding the subway to work,  sitting at your desk, standing in front of your classroom, winterizing your garden ~ remember to invite God into your business.  Think about the Exodus and the Canaanite Woman stories.  Ask God questions within the deepest part of your heart.  Listen to God's questions within the deepest part of your heart.
Pray Emmanuel

ora et labora

Good night.  rest.  breathe.  feel my heart beat and sigh

Teach me to pray ~ Encouragement before we share Exodus and the Canaanite Woman

Beautiful prayers presented in the Gospels lately.  Listen to these passages as we prepare our Exodus and the Canaanite Woman prayer sharing:

Mark 10:35-45.  We'll hear this Gospel this Sunday at Mass ~ October 18th, 2009

THIS IS THE LINE THAT HITS ME HARD when I ask Jesus to teach me to pray.  Just look at how he answers a question?  Ah man...I cried...

Emmanuel

(Jesus) said to them, 'What is it you want me to do for you?'

Luke 10:25-37 from October 5th, 2009

Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"

Listen to that!  wow...see where I am going with this? Please, tell me what you think...what you're feeling...

I really didn't mean to take any more time from your day; BUT!  hehehe

WARNING ~ tangent

I received some feedback recently concerning this journal I am sharing with you.  I heard the person say something like this, "your stream of consciousness (drives me crazy!)."  Ah man...that is really who I am...it is really how I pray...

I tried very hard to make this post short, succinct,  to the point...well, there you have it brothers and sisters!

alright

alright alright

Look for Mark 8 right around verse 22.  I cry...

Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?"

We'll get into everything else about this most exquisite healing story later.  I LOVE IT!

Look at all the questions.  THAT is prayer for me.  

lectio divina

Talking with God.  

Asking Questions.  

Listening to God.  

Answering God's questions

We've already shared God asking the first two persons, "Where are you?"  We've already shared Jesus asking us, "Who do the crowds say I am?"  Moses asking God, "Who do I say sent me?"  Did we talk about Abraham asking God questions ~ "what if there are 50...?" ~ while sitting with God on the hill overlooking Sodom?  I should check our archives...THAT story is so important to me.

Ah man...one more thing...

Could all the questioning be like a child?  Didn't Jesus embrace the children in a story encouraging us to come to God as a child?  

God bless you.  Thank you for your patience.  Let's pray about the Exodus story and the Canaanite Woman remembering to ask questions...to listen...to hear God's questions...to answer God's questions...

Before closing for the night...go back to Jesus asking the Expert in the Law, "How do you read it?"  Let's feel encouraged to let our Holy Spirit rest in our hearts while reading the Exodus and the Canaanite Woman stories.  let me just ask this...Have you found the link I LOVE in the two stories?  You might not like me when I finally get there...

Time for me to sit back...rest...breathe and sigh

Pray for me. Pray with me.

I really want to write down my thoughts and feelings about the last plague to hit Pharaoh in Exodus 11 and 12 but am very nervous.  I, then, ask you to pray for me and pray with me.

Sit back.  Relax.  Read the passages.  Sit back.  Relax.  Feel our hearts beat.  Recognize our breathing.  Let our breathing match our heart beat...

Listen.  Feel.  Love.  Question.  Listen.  Feel.  Love.




Next find the Canaanite Woman in the Gospels.  She is also referred to as the SyroPhoenician woman.

Sit back.  Relax.  Read the passages.  Sit back.  Relax.  Feel our hearts beat.  Recognize our breathing.  Let our breathing match our heart beat...

Listen.  Feel.  Love.  Question.  Listen.  Feel.  Love.



Another day, huh?

Peace...