PRAYING FOR AUTHORITIES - The writer uses four terms to describe the worshiping community at prayer: supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings (v. 1). According to Origen, Christians are called to (1) make earnest requests (deeseis) for help amid personal needs; (2) make humble entreaties (proseuchas) for whatever is beneficial; (3) offer petitions / intercessions (enteuxeis) for each other as needs are perceived; and (4) give thanks (eucharistias) for blessings received.

GEOPOLITICAL PRAYER - This passage keeps us from being myopic in our praying. Since Christ offered himself up for all, so the church’s prayers are lifted up for all and not just for the needs of our community. The implications of the passage suggests that we seek to become aware of our own world events and leaders so that we can pray with some level of authentic awareness and larger viewpoint than just those in our pews.

WHY EARLY CHRISTIANS PRAYED FOR LEADERS -

The situation envisaged was nothing like the modern Western democracy . . . it was rather, the situation familiar to Diaspora (and Palestinian) Jews for most of their history-the struggle to secure and maintain a foothold within a hostile environment, where political authorities would always tend to be suspicious of the little house groups whose legal status was at best ambiguous . . .

How closely do these ancient instructions on worship fit with your present worship order?

How often do you personally pray for the leaders of your country? ___once a year ___every day ___occasionally in church ___never

What worship attitudes do you want to cultivate from the instructions on worship that are in vv. 1-15? Which ones would you not want to add? Why?

Begin the homily by recreating the context for these instructions on worship and especially the focus on prayer. Walk through the text and describe the nuances of meaning between the four types of prayer mentioned.

Include in your homily someone (or several) who have a different country of origin to share a brief account of how Christianity progresses in their country. How can we pray for them?

Encourage your listeners to pray for their leaders-especially in light of the coming election 2004.

_______________________________________________________