Scripture
1 Samuel 1:9-20, Hannah prays for a son.
Psalms 86, Listen to my cry of supplication.
1 Thessalonians 5:12la, 13b-18, We urge youY to help the weak.
Luke 11:5-13, Ask and it will be given you.
Meditation
Unable to bear a child and in great distress, Hannah prayed to God for a son and
in due time, Samuel (which means I have asked him of the Lord) was
born. In Luke's gospel, Jesus himself tells us to Aask and it will be given.” In
our need, we turn to God in prayer. The response may not be what we expect but
God always responds.
The power of prayer is immense, especially when linked to service. In Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, the theme of service is taken up in the imperative: “help the weak.” We do not find it impossible to respond ecumenically in a practical way to people's weakness or distress; churches of different traditions often work hand in hand. But their witness in some situations is seriously weakened by their division, and when we want to pray together, we are sometimes deeply suspicious of the different prayer forms we encounter in Christian traditions other than our own.
There are signs however of a new consideration of different forms of prayer. Within American churches, the experience of Pentecostal renewal has also led to a greater appreciation of the power of prayer and Pentecostals have begun to feel more comfortable in the ecumenical movement. Discussion with the Orthodox churches in the World Council of Churches has also led to greater appreciation of each other's prayer forms.
Without doubt, confidence in the power of prayer has rich potential to further the cause of Christian unity — once we can understand and overcome our differences. We should give prayerful support to the dialogues which seek to address those differences and which prevent us from coming together at the Lord's table. Praying together that prayer of remembrance and thanksgiving would allow a great stride to be taken along the road to unity.
Prayer
Help us, Lord, to be truly one in praying for the healing of our world, for the
mending of divisions in our churches, and of ourselves. May we never doubt that
you hear and answer. In Jesus' name, Amen.