HUMAN WORDS

Many times we struggle in prayer because of the concept that we are small and God is big. This being so, our thinking, words, voice and intentions can immediately take on an inferior and disabled position before we even begin to pray. The great theologian Karl Rahner wrote about conversation with God, “You (God) must adapt your word to my smallness, so that it can enter into the tiny dwelling of my finiteness—the only dwelling in which I can live—without destroying it. You must make your own some human word; for that’s the only kind I can comprehend. Don’t tell me everything that you are; don’t tell me of your infinity—just say that you love me; just tell me of your goodness to me. But don’t say this is in divine language, in which your love also means your inexorable justice and your crushing power—say it rather in my language, so I won’t have to be afraid that the word love hides some significance other than your goodness and gentle mercy.”

In prayer we ask in human language needing to be heard in human language. God needs to leave any perception of elevated distant divine status and become as common as our words and cognition. The essence of mercy, grace and truth is God coming to our human level. Every exchange in prayer is verification of God using human words. The only exception is when we speak in tongues in a heavenly language that only God can know and comprehend.

“But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Jesus