Phenomenology of Prayer: Prayer as Kenosis Notes, Blog #4

Phenomenology of Prayer

Prayer as Kenosis Notes:

When I read this section of the book, I was very surprised to see that prayer is one of the most common human activities, regardless of whether it is a private or public act. This fact makes it hard to believe that people have trouble with the “petition” aspect of the principles of prayer. Mensch in his writing says that part of the reason this happens is because people pray for things like winning or losing, getting a reward or consequence. Ultimately, someone will have to lose the competition, making it seem as though God did not answer someone’s request. Rene Giarard says, “Our socialization involves imitating others. It thus leads us to desire what they desire and hence to compete with them, often in violent ways, for possessions of a desired object.” When we suggest these things to God in prayer, it is all too evident that people are offering something to God in place for this favor, whether intentional or not. This indicates that we are trying to “trade” with God hoping for mutual benefits. This begs the question what could the gods want from us?

Two Concepts of the Sacred

1.     Phenomenology is the study of appearing, but the sacred seems to signify what cannot appear.

The Greeks narrowed this down to our dependence in a constant process with the world. The Greek word “sacer” means ‘safe’ in the way of being kept separate especially for the gods.

2.     The sense of the sacred as coming into the world by incarnating itself.

For example, it is believed that Zeus can come back to earth and wander, but if someone sees him, it is their duty to show him hospitality. The most popular example of incarnation is Christ, which involves the idea of kenosis. This is a prime example of kenosis, because Christ emptied himself and took the burden and sins of the world by becoming slave like.

This concept of Jesus practicing and being the central theme behind the act of kenosis fascinates me. Many times in the Bible we are being told to do something or act a certain way, but here Christ is just using Himself as the ultimate example for this fundamental idea of kenosis.