Whether it be our first reading (Exodus 17:8–13), where Moses grows tired and needs the support of Aaron and Hur, or the second (2 Timothy 3:14–4:2), where we hear Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to “proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient,” both set the stage for our Gospel (Luke 18:1–8), in which Jesus encourages us to “pray always without becoming weary.” These messages of persistence and continued engagement in prayer and proclaiming the Good News are clear, but they seem daunting. How are we, with our busy lives, supposed to do that? Who has the time or energy? And, by the way, isn’t that kind of constant prayer for priests, nuns, and other holy people? Certainly, Jesus doesn’t mean me!
Let me share a true story: When I entered the seminary, I was concerned that I might not be “holy” enough to be a lay minister in the Church. I had always been actively involved in my faith community, so I was surrounded by many examples of people who seemed far holier than I thought myself to be. One such person was appointed the default leader of prayer in our large friend group. When he prayed for us, his words were embellished with many pious and “church-like” phrases that just weren’t part of my vocabulary. I was filled with angst. Would I ever be able to pray like him? It bothered me so much that I asked my pastor, and I’ll never forget his response. He answered, “When you pray, God wants to hear your voice.” It was in this moment that I realized there wasn’t any benefit from trying to sound like someone else. God made me. God knows me. And, just like any wonderful parent, God loves me, just as I am. He wants a relationship with me—stumbling words and all!
Here’s the message for us today: By focusing on communication with God that is honest and open, we are freed from it being a burden. God wants to hear our weariness. He wants to hear our joy. When we pray in our own voices, those prayers can become as uplifting as any good conversation with a friend. Sure, the memorized prayers from our youth are still of worth, but we might all benefit by asking, “How can I, more persistently, use my own voice in prayer?”
