“Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:5-6
As a priest, one of the things I’m most often asked to do is to pray for people, which I am always happy to do. It is a joyful and humbling experience to stand in the presence of our Creator and plead for favor, mercy, or intervention on behalf of someone else. But as powerful and effective as intercessory prayer is, did you know that you do not need a priest, minister, or anyone else for that matter, to speak to God on your behalf?
In the Old Testament, the Children of Israel could only petition God through priests and the offering of sacrifice. On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, it was the High Priest who would enter the Holy of Holies through the thick veil, which was sixty feet tall, thirty feet wide, and four inches wide, and stand in the presence of Yahweh and pray for forgiveness on behalf of the people. The High Priest had to carefully prepare himself and his heart, because to enter God’s presence with sin in one’s heart meant immediate death. He wore bells on his garments and a golden cord around his ankle. As long as the bells were ringing, it meant all was well. If they stopped, it meant the High Priest was toast, and those outside the Holy of Holies would use the golden cord to pull him out, lest they suffer the same fate. It is an awesome thing to stand before Almighty God!
When Jesus died on the Cross and became the once-and-for-all sacrifice for our sins, we’re told the huge thick veil of the Temple was torn into from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), thereby providing all of us free access to God through prayer. As God’s children, you and I can enter the throne room of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords anytime and anywhere, under any circumstances. I have often imagined my childhood self running, as only children can to, into the Holy of Holies and crawling up into God’s lap. Sometimes I tell God my needs and desires, and other times I just settle snug and protected in His arms, letting Him hold me and assure me that He is still in control.
Did you know that the leadership of the Pastoral Care Team here at St. Dunstan’s meets regularly (via Zoom) to compassionately and confidentially discuss and pray for the needs of our parish and those of our community, nation, and the world? I look forward each week to the privilege of coming together with these amazing prayer warriors. The Pastoral Care Team has been led for the last nine years by Jerre Bergeron, who is retiring but not vanishing. I know she will continue to stand in the gap for the needs of others. There will be a reception this Sunday, February 15th, to honor Jerre for her long and sacrificial leadership of the Pastoral Care Team. I hope you will come between 4 and 6 pm to let her know how much you appreciate her service here at St. Dunstan’s
Finally, remember that prayer is not something that should be taken lightly or used infrequently, but rather a practice that becomes a regular part of our life. Just as we need food to maintain our physical bodies, so also we need prayer to nourish our spirits. We all communicate with one another on a regular basis, so shouldn’t we also talk regularly with our Heavenly Father. To that end, the Apostle Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). God wants us to talk with Him about all things, both great and small. He is listening, and he wants to hear from us. Now.
Prayer: Lord, help me to open my heart to You, my concerns, my fears, my plans and my hopes. Help me to trust the answers you give. AMEN.
Blessings,
Steve+
