7-24-22 Sermon Notes “Look Who’s Talking”

One can learn a lot about a person by taking a look at the prayer that person prays. For instance, consider this familiar prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

This, of course is a prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. It was put to music, and our own Ezra Byrant does a BEAUTIFUL job of singing it!

Here is another famous prayer that was put to music. See if you recognize this one:

O Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends.
So, Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?

Janis Joplin sang this one. RIP, Janis. If I’m honest with myself, I have to admit that sometimes my prayers sound more like Janis Joplin’s than St. Francis’. Ouch! “Who’s talking” when it comes to prayer is important.

Who’s talking in the Gospel reading for this Sunday – Luke 11: 1-13? Jesus, of course…but also the disciples…and also us, because Jesus is teaching us not only the Lord’s Prayer, but something about praying, about God, and about ourselves. Join me on Sunday as we look at Jesus as Teacher, Friend, and Parent.

Keep on praying!
Pastor Sam