Ash Wednesday, February 6                                                       Luke 18:  9-14

 

Fellowship with God

 

“One time there was a Pharisee and a tax collector. One day they both went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee stood alone, away from the tax collector. When the Pharisee prayed, he said, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not as bad as other people. I am not like men that steal, cheat, or do the sin of adultery. I thank you that I am better than this tax collector. I fast twice a week and I give one tenth of everything I earn!’ The tax collector stood alone too. But when he prayed, he would not even look up to heaven. The tax collector felt very humble before God. He said, ‘O God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner!’ I tell you, when this man finished his prayer and went home, he was right with God. But the Pharisee, who felt that he was a better than other people, was not right with God. Every person that makes himself important will be made humble. But the person that makes himself humble will be made important.”

 

The difference between these two men was great, but not for the reason the Pharisee thought. The difference between the congregants of Gilead Church is great also. We come from many walks of life, nationalities, races, professions, incomes and beliefs in God. Prayer for each of us is different – personal. Be it in anguish like the tax collector or in self righteousness like the Pharisee, we are all reaching out to God in prayers of thankfulness and forgiveness in our own way. One aspect of Gilead Church that we cherish is the equableness we all share, the family sense of togetherness regardless of our pasts.

 

Proper gratitude to God helps us all to be on the lookout for God’s providence. This is a term that reminds us that God is very much in relationship with us, and with the world, that God continues to be our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Prayer can be many things. Often it is not the words spoken or unspoken. Sometimes it is that moan or groan. Sometimes it is in anger and with tears. It does not matter what we pray or how we pray. What matters is the closeness we feel to the Holy Spirit. So if we pray as either of the people in this text from Luke, it does not matter. God knows our hearts. What matters are our hearts and the closeness of our soul. Our heartfelt prayers.

 

Prayer:

And so we can say, with confidence, Thank God! Thank you for our lives, our faith, for Jesus. Thank God for our bodies, imperfect and vulnerable and fragile as they are. Thank God for our minds, our particular talents, for family, friends, for love and hope. Thank God. Thanks be to God. Amen.

 

 

~ Keith and Robin Carlough