Giving of Yourself

          Could there be a truer definition of the term, Giving of yourself than giving blood at a Red Cross donor drive?  I gave blood today and I can physically feel that I have given of myself!  I know that someone will benefit from the gift that I’ve given today.  There are many different ways that we give of ourselves, some, who are no longer able to give blood, are here at the check-in table and in the recovery area' giving their time.  Others give their time in different ways, at church and in the community.  When we give something that’s precious to us, then we know that we have truly given a gift to others.

Of course the truest definition of giving is Jesus, who gave all that he had… even his life.  Throughout his life, he associated with those considered unclean, the diseased, the poor, the outcast, and imprisoned.  He spoke out against a culture and society that benefitted some people at the expense of others.  He continued, even though he knew that his actions would cost him his life.  He gave a gift beyond measure; he died so that we might have life in abundance.

Jesus asks each of us to give as well – to give our very lives – not in death, but in service to others.  Jesus set an example for us, reaching out to others in need, loving our neighbors – those we know and those we don’t.  He told us to give of ourselves, sharing our gifts – our time, our talent, and our money, to reach out to those who have been shunned by society, and to share the good news with others.

We may feel that we don’t have what it takes to do as Jesus asks.  We may feel like we’re just not good enough or that if we have doubts; it means that we don’t have faith.  The truth is; doubt is not the opposite of faith.  Doubt is really part of the faith process…  Faith is something that changes constantly, as the events in our lives serve to test or strengthen our faith.  Faith prepares us to receive Jesus… through our worship, through all who are gathered on Sunday, and through all who remain beyond our doors.  God gives us all that we need, working in us and through us as we give of ourselves so that others may share in our abundance.

The Comfort of Prayer

Do you remember the very first prayer that you were taught?  For me, it was a bed time prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.”  Then I would bless all my family and friends, “God bless mommy and daddy… God bless grandma and grandpa… and I would continue on like that until I’d mentioned all the people and things that I loved.  Over the years, I’ve learned many different prayers… and ways to pray, but at night when I’m tired and stressed; those are the words that come to my mind.

Jesus’ disciples observed him praying and asked him to teach them to pray.  It’s not that they’ve never prayed before.  They’re observant Jews, taught such things since they were young, but they wanted to learn to pray as Jesus prayed.  In response, Jesus gives them a short prayer.  A prayer that now identifies and unifies us as Christians.  On Sundays and many other days, as we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we pray with Christians in around the world, from Egypt to Albuquerque, from San Francisco to Rome – both in New York and Italy. 
 
For many of us the Lord’s Prayer is the first… or in my case, the second prayer that we learn as children.  It’s amazing how this prayer has become such an integral part of our memory, so much so that it seems to be written in our hearts.  There’ve been times when I visited an elderly person in a nursing home, who was nearly unresponsive, but when I began the Lord’s Prayer, they joined me, praying slowly each word until the end.

Jesus teaches us that prayer is an intimate conversation with God.  He taught us to begin our prayer with, “Our Father.”  Before this, no one had ever spoken to God in such a way.  This is the relationship that Jesus invites us into… reminding us that we are indeed, God’s beloved children.  Jesus invites us to talk with God as we would talk to a loving parent, who listens to us, cares for us, forgives and provides for us.  Jesus reminds us that God, who is infinitely greater, more loving, and generous than we are, responds to our prayers, even with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

You may have noticed that this prayer is not just a comforting, private little prayer, to help us through difficult times.  This is a prayer of community.  It is a prayer for a community of faith, promised the gift of the Holy Spirit.  And together, with the Holy Spirit, this community, this church, is called to be the Body of Christ.  We are called to be light – to shine the Gospel in dark places.  We are called to be salt – to preserve the good news of Jesus Christ for all generations.  We are called to be bread for the world –to feed the hungry with food for the body, as well as the soul. 

Whether we’re praying as a child, for the Lord, “our soul to keep,” or as an adult to Our Father with words written on our heart; we pray, trusting that God will take care of us, even when we don’t fully understand what that means.  We pray to the One who loves us, who is present with us every day… in our joy and hope and in our pain and suffering… We pray to the One who strengthens and supports us as individuals and as a church… providing all that we need – our daily bread.

Psalm 138 reminds of these things.  “God will fulfill God’s purpose for us. Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” We are the work of God’s hands; guided by Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and given the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Let us pray for guidance to fulfill God’s purpose for ourselves and our church.  Let us pray for strength to be daily bread for one another and for all of God’s children.  Let us trust in God, as we take our daily worries, needs, and temptations to the Lord in prayer.  Amen.