2/18/16 Reflection - Parking

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021816.cfm

Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25
Matthew 7:7-12

Esther is one of those notable women of the Old Testament who has a book in Scripture devoted entirely to her story. Some scholars consider it fiction; but, whether history or fiction, the message of the story about prayer and God's faithfulness remains the same. 

The events take place in Persia during a period when that nation is the dominant mid-eastern power. As the story opens we find that Esther is an orphan taken in by her uncle, a man named Mordecai. She matures into a beautiful young Jewish maiden and, through a matter of circumstances, becomes the queen of the Persian king. Within a few months of being crowned, her new status as queen enables her to pass along critical information from her uncle about a plot against the empire. The information results in the plot being neutralized and the king being saved. In the meantime, the king's minister, who had recently risen to power, is offended when the Jew, Mordecai, Esther's uncle, refuses to bow to him as the law prescribes. In his anger he vows to destroy, not only Mordecai, but all the Jews in the kingdom, of which Israel is a part. He strategically begins organizing his evil game plan. Esther, who is not known as a Jewess to either the king or his minister, hears of the scheme. It is at this point in the story that we join her as she comes to God in prayer..

My Lord, you alone are our King. Help me, who am alone and have no help
but you, for I am taking my life in my hand.
In the responsorial psalm this same teaching on man's prayer and God's response continues.
Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

The lesson is advanced even further in the gospel. The words of Jesus himself affirm that our prayer is of consequence and that God's response is reliable.

“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

And still, the lesson goes on as Jesus speaks of how a Father deals with his children and their requests.

My attitude towards prayers of petition has changed over the years. At one point in my life I believed that only prayers of praise were appropriate. There was a later time when I decided that God was only interested in the major events and crisis in my life --- life and death matters or occurrences that had the potential to be life-changing --- the "big picture" as it were, like Esther's life and death problem. I thought the little things just sort of happened or unfolded as incidents fell into place. When the leper came to Jesus "and knelt before him, saying, 'Lord, if you will, you can make me clean,'" I couldn't imagine Jesus responding: "No, I don't think so. Not today." On the other hand I could easily imagine God brushing aside other requests like "Lord, give me green traffic lights so I can get to work on time." 

Neither of these positions, I.e. prayer of praise only or prayer only for important things, reflect where my mind and heart are now, or have been for several years. Still, the whole prayer of petition issue has remained somewhat murky for me. So let me tell you how it came about that today I'm reflecting on prayer, specifically prayer of petition.

A little over three weeks ago my wife and I were with friends in Breckenridge enjoying some outdoor winter activity. It was a great day. Wonderful weather! Brilliant sunshine! Perfect snow! And Colorado blue skies. We finished our activities early in the afternoon and headed back to the Breckenridge town center for lunch before heading home. Now, if any of you have been to Breck during ski season, you know what a mess the downtown area can be --- people and traffic, ice and snow, narrow streets and dead end alleys. I was driving.

For an extended period we drove around looking for a parking space --- on Main Street or off, it didn't make any difference, none of us was afraid of walking. We spotted several potentials that turned out to be drive-ways, or small cars, or loading zones, or simply no parking areas. We even had a local cop suggest that we would be ill advised to stay parked in an apparently satisfactory place. (Investigation revealed a Permit Parking Only sign half buried in snow.)

So we headed out once more --- searching. As we arrived at a stop sign on the main drag I mumbled to the group --- half facetious, half serious --- OK, now it's time for a prayer: Lord, we need a parking space. I turned the corner and immediately came upon two, back to back. The second one was taken before we were out of the car. It all happened so fast that I was tempted to say: "Never mind, Lord, I found one." But really, what do you say in a situation like that? Could it really be true that my Heavenly Father actually loves me enough to answer a simple request for a parking space? I was shaken a bit by the very thought that His love could reach to such incidental things in my life. During the drive home my thoughts kept returning to the incident and the only two alternatives: providence or coincidence (the latter of which I claim to disbelieve).

But it wasn't over yet. Usually I prepare these reflections some time during the few days preceding our meeting; but I thought "maybe I'm being guided to talk about prayer" this coming Wednesday; and, while I have always in the past reflected on the Scripture for the day, I was so affected by the parking incident in Breck that I considered talking about it instead of the Sacred Word. Finally, I decided that the choice for topic would depend on the Scripture text rather than my own reaction. If I was supposed to talk about prayer, the Word of God for the day would clearly say so. 

I looked up the readings for Thursday --- Thursday of last week. You may recall the texts were about Moses setting out the choice between life and death and Jesus talking about picking up one's cross. Hmmm! Well, I guess not. Then I remembered: 'I'm not giving the reflection this week; John is.' So, I looked up the readings for today. Esther's prayer! I called, you answered! Everyone who asks, receives! I nearly fell over. 

So, here I am, talking to you about a prayer for a parking space and my Father's answer.

It's hard to believe how gracious and loving our God can be. Parking a car is such a small thing and no one in the car would really have minded another ten blocks onto the morning's accumulated total. But in his infinite kindness he answered my only half sincere prayer; and then made it clear that someone who hears or reads this reflection needs assurance of his love. Or maybe the one in need is the someone who writes these reflections.

LORD, you have probed me, you know me:
you know when I sit and stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
You sift through my travels and my rest;
with all my ways you are familiar.
Even before a word is on my tongue, LORD, you know it all.
Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, far too lofty for me to reach.

Never before have these words from the Psalm touched me so deeply.
Never again will I be reluctant to ask.