A Powerful Prayer Helper
Thursday, March 13
Romans 8:26
Christians do not have a monopoly on helpfulness. The Roman culture understood that to maintain a well-functioning society, a sense of mutual aid needed to be cultivated, expressed, and practiced.
Theologically, this is understood as the built-in law, telling us what we ought to do. The Romans built a substantial system of rule of law as their guiding principle. But we recall that waiting in the wings was a potent system of an authoritarian governorship, backed up by an iron-fisted army. This center of power stood ready to nail those whom the governor considered a threat to civility or to the existing rule of law that had been established by Emperor and Senate.
We witness this swift operating power structure in the Roman “justice” of Good Friday. Time from trial to crucifixion? About three hours.
In the book of Romans, Paul makes a point to say, “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities….” (Romans 13:1) Christians were not a threat to Rome; instead, they would bring a new civility. They would help their fellow man because the Holy Spirit inspired them to be divinely resurrected by the truth that God was “for them” and “with them” and “in them”! They needed no law to threaten them to be good; rather, God Himself would lead them to be like Him. They would love their neighbors as themselves, and thereby melt the coldness of goodness inspired only by morality and fear.
Yet St. Paul, whom the Spirit inspired to write the verse that follows, wanted to apply divine helpfulness to lifestyle and prayer, not just salvation: “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.…” (Romans 8:26)
Behind the little phrase “helps our weaknesses” is a single word which is used only one other place in the New Testament, Luke 10:40. The context of the Gospel verse is Martha’s complaint about her sister not helping. The nuance of the verb in each verse is markedly different. Martha implies that her sister Mary has no history of wanting to help her. But Paul’s mood is different. He indicates that the Holy Spirit wants to help us in our prayers, and has a history of doing just that!
In a way, Mary was listening to Jesus with an ear that knew He wanted to help both of the sisters. And He did! Not out of some mandate but because He “so loved the world!” which included two bickering sisters.
The Spirit of God is associated with freedom, joy, love, and fruit!!!! He groans as Jesus did when He healed the deaf man unable to speak. (Mark 7:34) Jesus wanted to help us in all of our fallen failings – and He did! The Spirit wants to help our weak prayers in the same way. The children of God do not pray alone; the Holy Spirit has a history of helping, and He joyfully groans out help, to lift our prayers to heaven!
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I confess the sin of thinking a noble prayer is all about me. Remind me of my Helper! Amen.