Monday, June 8, 2020
A Prayer for the Discontented
The Hebrew people have escaped slavery and tyranny. They have followed Moses out of bondage and moved toward freedom and promise. When the journey becomes too long and too arduous they grumble and complain. They who had been hopeful and even joyful at the prospect of change and newness are now disgruntled, unhappy and even resentful. They complain to Moses who does what all faithful do . . . he takes his problem to God where all solutions lie.
We see a reprise of this story later in the New Testament. As the kingdom work begins to build, Jesus assembles seventy-two disciples to go out into the world when the harvest is plenty but the workers few. (Luke 10) Still later when the fledgling Church begins to form, the disciples add to their ranks in order that they accomplish the work they see before them because it would not be right to neglect the ministry of the word of God. (Acts 6) The work becomes arduous, even difficult, and so the apostles ask for help.
Jesus tells us that we are to knock at the door we wish might open to us. He reminds us that we are to seek so that we might find. (Luke 9 and Matthew 7) We are never left alone to deal with our stumbling blocks and in fact these obstacles become doorways and windows onto our best potential as creatures of God. They are reminders that God is always present, always abiding. These “problems” in our lives are actually openings to a deeper relationship with God.
As we journey through life we often find ourselves needing more than manna; we discover that the taste of the daily quail has somehow soured and rather than sustain us these birds have now become the root of our discontentment. We are tempted to ask for more than manna and quail and we do not see that this further complicates our problems. We do not see that we must ask God to show us solutions to our problems that lead us to grow and mature in Christ. So, rather than carry our burdens on our own, let us tell God that some of our load is too much to carry, and when we do we will find that from the depths of his descent into darkness Jesus returns to free us from all that enslaves us. Jesus arrives to carry us forward. Jesus abides with us always, just as has been promised, to bring us to our best selves.
When find that we have begun to settle into our discontentment as a kind of familiar unhappiness, let us ask ourselves these questions. What do we seek more than the manna we receive daily? Are we willing to open ourselves so that our too-heavy load might actually be an answer to a prayer that is shared in God’s light? Are we willing to give up the habit of our discontentment for the promise of freedom offered by God?
And let us pray . . .
Kind and loving God, you sustain us through all turmoil even though we may not see you.
Just and merciful God, you transform our suffering even though we may fail to call on you.
Patient and wonderful God, you allow us to grumble and complain even when we need to celebrate with you.
Loving and generous God, show us how our discontentment may lead us back to you. Amen.
Image from: http://www.newbeginningscctampa.org/Bread_of_Life.html
Adapted from a reflection written on April 23, 2011.
The Noontimes 