Getting Rid of the Heat

Homily for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Genesis 18.20-32 Psalm 138 Colossians 2.12-14 Luke 11.1-13

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It seems like one of the top things on everyone’s mind these days is the heat – as we all know, it’s been an unusually warm summer in many parts of the country. We can’t get rid of the heat, and most of us are tired of it. So what do we do instead? We talk about. There are probably more conversations about weather on a given day than on any other topic. And with a long stretch of oppressively hot temperatures and high humidity, our conversations eventually get around to ways to beat the heat, or at least to avoid heat stroke. We remind one another to drink plenty of water, to keep our bodies hydrated. We try not to mow the grass in the heat of the day, and we search out any opportunity for air-conditioned comfort. And if we do go outside, we are reminded to use sunscreen and to limit our time in the direct sunlight. The good health of our bodies depends on taking appropriate action when the temperatures rise. We could ignore all these ways to beat the heat, but then our health and well-being would suffer. It’s as simple as that.

The same thing is true for our spiritual well-being. Even though the extremes of temperature or humidity can’t directly affect our spiritual lives, there are plenty of things in the world that can scorch our souls or freeze our consciences. The ongoing temptation to have the latest gadget can quickly harden our hearts. The excitement of an entertainment-based society can confuse our moral compass. The temporary pleasure of instant gratification can turn our souls away from what lasts forever. Just like good hydration and adequate rest are essential for our bodies to survive a heat wave, we need something to help our souls survive the spiritual void that exists around us. And the answer is as simple as prayer.

Prayer keeps us connected to God. It reminds us that God cares for us like a father, that his kingdom is right here among us. In prayer, we can ask God for the help we need in our daily lives – we can ask God for strength or wisdom, for guidance or peace. Prayer keeps our souls nourished and helps us take the focus off ourselves. With prayer, we can keep our spiritual lives grounded in the love of God, and the distractions of the world seem a lot less tempting.

So if you find yourself struggling with what’s going on in your life, or if it seems like the lure of the world is getting a hold of you, check out your prayer life. It can make a difference even if we only take 5 minutes a day to talk with God. Take that time to think through your day, and to thank God for whatever blessings you have been given – and there is always something to be thankful for. Then ask God to help you in whatever way you need him – and we always need God’s help. Spend some time in silence, then pray in the words Jesus himself gave us. It’s that simple – say “thank you,” ask for help, listen, and then pray. And if we spend even a fraction of the time praying as we do talking about the weather, then we will be well on our way to finding what our soul is looking for.