Prayer Practice

31Oct
 I will bless the Lord at all times;
  his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
  let the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me,
  and let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
  and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him, and be radiant;
  so your faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,
  and was saved from every trouble.
The angel of the Lord encamps
  around those who fear him, and delivers them.
O taste and see that the Lord is good;
  happy are those who take refuge in him….
The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
  none of those who take 
- Psalm 34


Jesus was a Jew. I can't say that often enough, so let’s lean into that fact today? Perhaps even exercise that understanding? He prayed and taught us to pray: from who he was, how he learned, what he taught, and what he did. 


Doing prayer is not easy for many. Certainly not me. That's why we have the Psalms; prayers and songs for every purpose under Heaven. The Book of Common Prayer is modeled on the Hebrew Psalms, a rich source of inspiration for artists, musicians, poets, writers, and many millions of people for centuries. 


Jesus certainly knew Psalm 34; it is an acrostic psalm, with every consonant letter of the Hebrew alphabet a mnemonic for mitzvot (commandment), 18 or 19 commandments, recited thrice daily in traditional Jewish practice.


But wordy breath is not all. The body is of a piece with mind and spirit. Let's get off merely saying words and into acting, doing prayer.


Prayer in Judaism called avodah shebalev, (service of the heart) -- to be meaningful, must focus on kavanah, "intention".


Body, mind, and spirit are united in Amidah, (standing) or HaTefillah (the Prayer), practiced three times a day. Episcopalians are good at the gymnastics of standing, sitting, and kneeling, so this practice should be easy to follow along.


I'll leave it to Trinity's Yoga Mass instructors to choreograph, but the basic steps are:


1. Face Jerusalem (turn East, towards the West Bank)

2. Stand with feet together (united, upright)

3. Take three steps backward (withdrawing from the world)

4. Take three steps forward (facing the Creator)


My holistic prayer -- body, mind, and spirit combined with intent -- praising and thanking the Creator at least three times a day -- is practiced while walking my dog. Thanks to that dog, I now am fully recovered from a broken hip!


Musical Reflection - O Taste and See - R. Vaughan Williams - Cambridge Singers


Gracious God, help us to pray our way into your presence with our hearts, our minds, our strength and our souls. Amen.

PsalmsSpiritual PracticePrayer

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