Ukrainian Orthodoxy		Orthodoxie ukrainienne

He Went up to Pray!

Very Reverend Ihor Kutash kutash@unicorne.org

(Ninth Sunday after Pentecost)

Today's Gospel reading (Matthew 14:22-34) gives a dramatic account of the miracle of Jesus' walking upon the sea. His disciple, Peter, seeing this most extraordinary sight, was inspired to ask for the grace to do the same - and did so! Until he started worrying about how he could be doing what he was doing. Then he "saw the wind" and became afraid. At once he started to sink. Yet he did not lose his presence of mind. He knew where help was available. "Lord, save me," he cried out, reaching to Jesus. And "Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him... And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased". Here indeed is miracle upon miracle. How right were those in the boat to worship Jesus and proclaim: "Truly You are the Son of God". They recognized that He was acting with the power and authority of God.

There is a significant phrase at the very beginning of this Gospel reading which we may have missed because it simply sets the stage for the unfolding drama. Here it is: "He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray". The prayer of Jesus! Here is the source of the miracles He wrought! He did signs and wonders to show the coming of the Kingdom of God in power. He did them by the Energy of God, which was available to Him so plenteously because of His prayer. He did not consider the time He spent in prayerful communion with the Father to be wasted or to be a leisure-time activity - something to be done when He was not too busy. Lets be honest: Is that not how we often view prayer? Do we not sometimes think that it is just another word for wishful thinking? Or a refuge for people who are too lazy to do something to help themselves? Or just something to make us feel that we are good people? Or merely a duty we feel guilty about neglecting - so we try to get it over with as quickly as we can?

Obviously this is not how Jesus viewed prayer. He actually sent people away so that He could have the time to pray! Prayer was His life-line. Prayer was as essential to Him as breathing. Through prayer He found the power to live and do His wonders. Through prayer He received guidance and encouragement. Prayer restored and kept ever fresh His awareness of His continual communion with God the Father. Through Jesus' prayer Heaven and earth came together for Him and for those who heard and followed Him.

Brothers and sisters - we need to ponder this message very carefully. We need to change our idea about prayer. We need what prayer provides - communion with God, direction, energy! We need these things desperately. It is not that prayer will make God give us things that otherwise He would not give. Prayer does not change God at all. God is always infinitely generous. He is continually pouring out His grace upon us - upon all His creatures - as rain upon the thirsty, parched ground of our human nature. But we are not always receiving that grace. We need to receive it. Prayer makes us open to receive it. Prayer does not change God - it changes us! Change is the meaning of repentance. It is not too late for us to change - we are changing all the time. Lets make that change a change for the better. Lets renew our efforts in prayer. Lets keep on calling out to God in our minds and with our mouths. Lets make time for focused prayer. Lets make time for worship and devotion - at home, alone and with our families, and in Church. Prayer is what makes us truly human.

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