Jesus was full of stories - stories which pack an emotional and spiritual punch.
These stories or parables are a great springboard for prayer, says Joyce Huggett, author of Praying The Parables.
Huggett says we can get the most out of these stories if we set aside time to meditate on them and look at them from various angles. Then, based on what we have learned, we pray.
Take the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37, one of Jesus' most powerful stories.
Jesus was confronted by a lawyer who asked him: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"
The lawyer probably thought he had backed Jesus into a tricky corner. But Christ responded by asking him what was his answer to that question.
The lawyer replied by reciting the great commandments to love God and love your neighbour as yourself. Then, he tried to pin down Christ by asking him who his neighbour is.
Jesus answered by telling the story of the Good Samaritan rather than offering a dry theological, philosophical or legal response.
As you know, a man was walking along a road in a deserted area when he was assaulted by thieves and left naked, bloodied and near death.
A priest and a Levite, pillars of Jewish society, passed by him without offering help. But a Samaritan - a man whose people were hated by Jews in Judea - stopped and tended to his wounds.
Not only that, but he put him on his donkey and took him to an inn where he took care of him. The following day he gave the innkeeper money to pay for feeding and caring for the wounded man and promised to give him more money on his return if that wasn't enough.
Then, Jesus asks the question that strikes right to the heart: "Which of these three was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
The lawyer was forced to answer: "The one who had mercy on him."
And Jesus told him: "Go and do likewise."
As Huggett notes, this parable is rich with prayer possibilities.
For example, I can think of these questions:
The answers to that question will vary from person to person and from time to time. Huggett says she comes back to the parable periodically and finds new things to pray about.
Looking quickly at this parable, I can see myself asking God to reveal my own heart towards people that are hurting and different from me. I might celebrate the heart of the Samaritan whom many people believe is a type of Christ himself. I might ask God to work in me to be more like the Samaritan.
Or, I could go beyond the personal and ask God to break down prejudices between people. I could ask him to pour out his mercy on struggling people. I could ask him to send us out as believers to be good Samaritans - true neighbours - to people around us.
You may have other prayer ideas.
What a fertile prayer source these parables are!
These stories or parables are a great springboard for prayer, says Joyce Huggett, author of Praying The Parables.
Huggett says we can get the most out of these stories if we set aside time to meditate on them and look at them from various angles. Then, based on what we have learned, we pray.
Take the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37, one of Jesus' most powerful stories.
Jesus was confronted by a lawyer who asked him: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"
The lawyer probably thought he had backed Jesus into a tricky corner. But Christ responded by asking him what was his answer to that question.
The lawyer replied by reciting the great commandments to love God and love your neighbour as yourself. Then, he tried to pin down Christ by asking him who his neighbour is.
Jesus answered by telling the story of the Good Samaritan rather than offering a dry theological, philosophical or legal response.
As you know, a man was walking along a road in a deserted area when he was assaulted by thieves and left naked, bloodied and near death.
A priest and a Levite, pillars of Jewish society, passed by him without offering help. But a Samaritan - a man whose people were hated by Jews in Judea - stopped and tended to his wounds.
Not only that, but he put him on his donkey and took him to an inn where he took care of him. The following day he gave the innkeeper money to pay for feeding and caring for the wounded man and promised to give him more money on his return if that wasn't enough.
Then, Jesus asks the question that strikes right to the heart: "Which of these three was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
The lawyer was forced to answer: "The one who had mercy on him."
And Jesus told him: "Go and do likewise."
As Huggett notes, this parable is rich with prayer possibilities.
For example, I can think of these questions:
- How would the Jewish audience react to the story of the priest and Levite avoiding the desperately wounded man?
- How would they react to the Samaritan - from a hated sect - stopping and going beyond duty to help the fallen Jew on the roadside?
- What is in the heart of the Samaritan which prompted to help this man?
- What is in our hearts as we read this story?
The answers to that question will vary from person to person and from time to time. Huggett says she comes back to the parable periodically and finds new things to pray about.
Looking quickly at this parable, I can see myself asking God to reveal my own heart towards people that are hurting and different from me. I might celebrate the heart of the Samaritan whom many people believe is a type of Christ himself. I might ask God to work in me to be more like the Samaritan.
Or, I could go beyond the personal and ask God to break down prejudices between people. I could ask him to pour out his mercy on struggling people. I could ask him to send us out as believers to be good Samaritans - true neighbours - to people around us.
You may have other prayer ideas.
What a fertile prayer source these parables are!
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