One of the requirements of Clinical Pastoral Education is writing and leading a meditation that can be used as the prayer to start the class sessions. At least that’s the way it was in the training program I went through in Omaha NE be a hospital chaplain, but requirements may vary from place to place and state to state.
Recently, I unearthed this one that I wrote on March 1st 2000 that was based on Chapter Six of Matthew;s Gospel:
Imagine that you are one of the disciples walking with Jesus in Galilee. It’s early in his ministry, and He has just heard that John the Baptist was arrested. He seems sad about that, but in so many ways he is still a man of mystery. You don’t know where He came from or what He is trying to tell you. It just feels right to be with Him and listen to Him speak.
It’s a hot, dusty day. In the distance, the Sea of Galilee shimmers in the afternoon sun.
You follow Jesus and the crowd to a grassy hillside where He stops to rest. You sit down, close enough to hear, and take off your sandals. The cool grass feels good on your tired feet.
When Jesus speaks, His words are like riddles to you. “How blest are the poor in spirit, the reign of God is theirs.
“Blest too are the sorrowing, they shall be consoled.”
Weird, you think. You’ve been poor all your life. There’s been nothing blessed about that.
Before you have time to try to figure out what all these ‘blests’ are about, Jesus talks about salt and light, “You are the light of the world,” he says.
Funny, you don’t feel very illuminating.
Then Jesus is off on another topic. Talking about forgiveness. No more “eye for an eye” stuff. If somebody hurts you turn the other cheek. Yeah, right. Like I could do that.
Then He starts talking about not praying in the synagogue like hypocrites. Where else are we supposed to pray? That’s what it’s there for. He wants us to go in in our room alone? Close the door. About the only thing that makes sense in this part of His sharing is when Jesus says not to prattle on like the pagans. You can buy that. Short and sweet and to the point.
Now Jesus says something really surprising. He says that the father knows what you need before you ask him. And Jesus tells you to pray this way: “Our Father who art in heaven.” “
Interesting. He didn’t say your father or my father. He said our father. Does that mean His father is my father? That somehow we are one?
“Hallowed be thy name.”
Wait a minute. The hallowed one is Yahweh. Is Jesus saying I should think of him like a father?
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven.”
How can this Jesus know what is done in heaven? Could it be that he is really who he says he is?
Now you inch closer to this man of mystery, searching his face for some manifestation. He raises his eyes to yours, and it’s like he can see straight into your heart. “Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us the wrong we have done – as we forgive those who wrong us.”
My God, those eyes. They’re saying as much as His words. And it’s like he’s talking only to you.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
“For yours is the kingdom. The power. And the glory, forever.”
Wow! He’s talking to God. About God. Like he knows God intimately. Could it be true? Could truly be The Son of God?
Then Jesus smiles at you.
And you know.
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NOTE: While the education in CPE was Christian based at this hospital, we were trained to serve all people of all religions and cultures. This direct connection to the Christian faith was not a part of our patient visits, unless we knew we were seeing a Christian. Even then, our first responsibility was to be with the person, wherever they might be, and only pray or read scripture if they requested it. Our role was not to come in with an agenda of saving their soul, and the topic of redemption or salvation had to be voiced by the patient first.
In my experience, sometimes that happened and sometimes it didn’t. Patients were often just happy to see someone who wasn’t coming in with a needle, or unwelcome news, and the more serious stuff happened later, when and if needed.
If you’d like to know more about my experiences as a chaplain, there is a book about that. 🙂 The Many Faces of Grief: Stories of Love, Loss, and Hope From a Hospital Chaplain.
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I hope this meditation was of interest to you, and I thank you for reading it. Whatever your weekend plans are, I hope they involve family and friends and lots of good times. Be safe. Be happy. Be kind.