Ben Pearce: Phenomenology of Prayer 2 Post 9

On Emptying Ourselves in Prayer

(Phenomenology of Prayer)

A Post on Essay Four: James R. Mensch

James R. Mensch, in his essay on Prayer as Kenosis, states that, “[Prayer should be] the attempt to provide a space where the Sacred can appear”. He argues that this means one should provide a space for the Divine by emptying himself while in prayer. This would withhold us from our own bodies while we pray, so that God can enter into us while we are requesting something. Mensch says this come from ceasing to request prosperity within the “earthly economy”. I agree with parts of his premise, and I disagree with other parts.

            I agree when Mensch says that we can empty ourselves by ceasing to ask for gifts and tangible materials rather than praying and singing praises to God. He says we can end up “[treating] the sacred as a good we can consume”. We try to use him for social matters, political matters, and material matters. These are things which we do not need in relation to the Spirit of God. All we need is the life sustainment that he gives to both those who worship him and those who hate him alike. Once we take the thought that God wants to behave as a genie out of our minds then we will be sufficiently emptied to praise and worship him. This self-emptying lets us concentrate on him and not what he gives us. This self-emptying lets us submit in humility and not thrive in a state of entitlement. This self-emptying lets us see clearly the written word of God and not with prosperity-seeking vision.

            I disagree when Mensch sets up his premise with the purpose of prayer and self-emptying. If I understood him correctly, he said the self-emptying provides a space for the sacred to come upon us. I do not believe this can be supported with scripture. If Christ was telling the truth, then we as believers are filled with the Spirit of God, the Divine third person of the Trinity who dwells in us who have a true faith, from the moment of our salvation to the very unending ending. We as believers have been emptied and given God’s Spirit. This small error does not hinder the importance his other points, that we should empty our minds of the “earthly economy” in order to focus more on God.