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In this week’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells a parable “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous:” Two men go up to the temple to pray.  The first is a Pharisee, a religious insider who serves a vital leadership role in the spiritual life of his community.  In the guise of a heartfelt “thank you,” he makes a personal progress report to God: “I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers.”  He then humbly brags about his pious lifestyle: “I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.”  Presumably, he leaves the temple feeling exactly the same way he felt when he walked in: just fine.  No growth, no change.

Sermon by The Rev. Deena M. Galantowicz
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Though we have been apart for a while, I know many of you have been prayerful in many ways, about many people and situations.  And tho’ I have not been here, I have been very prayerful about you here at St. Cyprian’s.   So,this morning I would like to talk about the importance of persistence in prayer and the significance of today’s Gospel parable in our lives. ///// The parable has an introduction which suggests why and to whom it was first addressed.  We read, “Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and moreover, not to lose heart.” He is speaking to his disciples, to people who have been taught to pray and who do pray.  But, these same people may be in danger of losing heart, losing hope.  There had to be times when the followers of Jesus were in danger of losing heart because of the situations they faced, the lack of understanding on their own part, and the sheer weariness of travelling the road they were called to travel.  Jesus told them this story in order to give them courage for the long haul, courage to continue in patient and persistent prayer.  The parable is about prayer…their prayer and ours.  “They ought always to pray and not lose heart.”  The parable is about faithfulness…theirs and ours.   

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Our readings this morning … specifically from the Prophet Jeremiah, and the Gospel of Luke … have to do with hope, and living in wholeness.  How can we enter into a faith that will provide hope, and show us a doorway to wholeness in our lives, even when the world around us … and within us … seems so fragmented?