Any Monty Python fans out there? In my younger days I enjoyed some of their movies and
comedy sketches. I don’t think I’ve ever quoted them in a St. Luke’s Wildcat article though! As I
was thinking about this post, I recalled the “prayer” shared by the “priest” in a Catholic school
chapel in the movie “The Meaning of Life”: “O Lord, you are so big, so absolutely huge. Gosh
we’re really impressed down here I can tell you. Forgive us O Lord for this our dreadful
toadying.”
I’ve been thinking about that amusing “prayer” in the context of our theme for this school year
“Lord, Teach Us to Pray” based on Philippians 4:6. Perhaps you’ve fallen into the same trap I
have now and then – praying to “impress”. Sometimes when I pray in a public setting, my sinful
human nature focuses on making sure the prayer sounds lofty and beautiful with plenty of big
words. But that’s not what prayer is all about, is it? In Matthew 6:6-7 we hear Jesus teach, “But
when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty
phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.” Prayer
is not a public spectacle – it’s an intimate conversation between you and God. Whenever you
pray, don’t fret or obsess over the words you’re using – speak from the heart to your God who
loves and cares for you deeply.