It's Me, O Lord
It's Me, O Lord
Preparing for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany: Three Days before Sunday (Year A)
Scripture
Psalter: Psalm 119:1-8
Old Testament: Genesis 26:1-5
Epistle: James 1:12-16
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Prayer
Divine Gardener, you give growth to our seeds and to the towering forest trees; you raise to abundant life that which seems dead. Teach us to choose blessing and life rather than death, so that we may walk blamelessly, seeking you through reconciliation with all of your children. Amen.
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Reflection
No one, when tempted, should say, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death (James 1:13-15).
An familiar African-American spiritual sings of our need for prayer.
Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer; Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer.
Refrain:
It’s me, it’s me, O Lord,Standin’ in the need of prayer; It's me, it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer.
Not the preacher, not the deacon, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer; Not the preacher, not the deacon, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer. [Refrain]
Not my father, not my mother, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer; Not my father, not my mother, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer. [Refrain]
Not the stranger, not my neighbor, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer; Not the stranger, not my neighbor, but it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer. [Refrain]
The letter of James minces no words. When we give in to temptation, it is our fault and, therefore we need prayer. There is no blaming our family, friends, or anyone for our failings. Most of all we must not blame God for our shortcomings. Yes, Lord, it’s me standing in the need of prayer.
From the beginning, human beings have wanted to blame others for giving in to temptation. In the Garden of Eden, Adam blames Eve for offering the forbidden fruit to him, Eve blames the serpent for his assurances that eating it was fine. One almost has to feel some sympathy for the snake as there was no one left for him to scapegoat.
The temptation to let ourselves off the hook for our giving in to temptation and then pinning it on someone or something else is just as strong now as it was then. “I’m not in need of prayer! It was the way my parents raised me or the lack of good role models or my toilet training. Yes, I did it Lord, but it’s my neighbor’s fault!”
Owning up to our sin is much akin to those who are need of recovery from alcoholism or drug addiction. No matter how they became addicted and who enabled them such recovery will never happen until the person in question stands up and says, “My name is John Doe, and I am an alcoholic.” We can never own up to our sin and travel the road of holiness until we take responsibility like the tax collector in Jesus’ parable and plead to God, “Be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:9-14). That is the beginning of recovery, of rescue from what ails us.
Life is filled with many temptations. We must avoid them if we can and resist when we cannot; but if we give in it is no one’s fault but our own. “It’s me, it’s me, O Lord, Standin’ in the need of prayer.
PRAYER: Perfect Light of revelation, as you shone in the life of Jesus, whose epiphany we celebrate, so shine in us and through us, that we may become beacons of truth and compassion, enlightening all creation with deeds of justice and mercy. Amen.
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