Praying with Moses

Wednesday, May 10, 2006 -- Week of 4 Easter

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this link -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 961)
Psalms 119:49-72 (morning) // 49, [53] (afternoon)
Exodus 33:1-23
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Matthew 5:17-20

It wouldn't be too far fetched to read the account of Moses going to the tent of meeting to be with the Lord as an image for the Church's practice of daily prayer. In our tradition, the Daily Office is our grounding practice of recollection before the presence of God. It is interesting how important a liturgical form is to Moses and the congregation. All rise and stand before their tents as Moses processes; all bow in recognition of God's presence in the pillar of cloud (incense?). Then Moses speaks intimately with God.

In the prayer that Moses speaks to God, he presents his problems with earnest frankness. "You've called me to this work. I need some help." Then he goes to an even deeper place of need. "Show me your ways, so that I may know you." Elsewhere in scripture there is a provocative phrase that has been meaningful to me as speaking the desire of my heart -- "I want to know you."

From somewhere deep within Moses' prayer, he senses a response. "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." I can imagine the deep sense of gladness and joy Moses must experience to feel God's answer to that deep prayer. Yet, even within this experience of divine assurance, Moses wonders. He begs, "If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here."

In this back and forth of prayer and response, God grants Moses request. "I will do the very thing that you have asked." But Moses goes even deeper within the desires of his heart and is bold to say, "Show me your glory, I pray." What a place of trust and need Moses has accessed. To see God's glory would be his end. To see God would be to be consumed.

God grants him his desire, in part. "I will make my goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim before you the name, "I AM WHO I AM." God is utterly free and will not be controlled by anything, including our prayers. So God covers Moses and turns away the divine face to let His glory pass by.

Each time we pray, something more (or usually less) than this is happening. Liturgy helps. The intentional procession, bows, incense and other evocations. Pouring out our heart's deepest desire with expectant faith helps. Listening deeply helps. Sometimes God speaks. We hear something; feel some intuition or stirring. We take that and respond, more deeply and intimately if possible. Sometimes God seems incredibly present. Sometimes there is only silence or emptiness. We often get less than we desire, but even God's backside can be wonderful.

Yesterday I watched an old monk across from me pray the responses for the Prayers of the People. "Christe eleison," we all said. But there was an earnestness and deep devotion in his face as he mouthed this common response. He was within the cloud. He was taking with God face to face. His prayer came from the heart.

It only takes a little attention and presence and energy to be so with God. It can happen in an instant. Liturgy helps. Practice and discipline develop competencies and skills. Listening deeply helps. It is what we are invited into daily. A time of daily prayer within the "tent of meeting" can ground us in the presence of the free God whose presence will go with us and who alone can give us rest. Whenever any one of us offers our daily prayer or Office, we dwell in that tent with Moses, with countless others who join us in this common practice, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, and most especially with God, who welcomes our needs, and wants to answer the deepest desire of our heart.

"I want to know you."

Lowell
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The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas