Then there is a reflection on the nature of God to
whom we pray: “...unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and
from whom no secrets are hid.” We can’t hide
from this God. God knows our secrets and our desires. We are an open
book to God.
Now that we know Who God is, we can then make our petition: “...
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy
Spirit.” In a word: “Give us a pure heart.” Clear away all that gets
between us and God. “Blessed are the pure in heart for
they will see God.” [Matthew 5:8] Hence the name of the prayer.
Then
we, according Buttrick, “...offer proof of the sincerity of our prayer”
by praying “...that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy
holy name.” It’s not enough to ask for a pure
heart. What do we intend to do with it? Pridefully keep it for
ourselves? No! With our pure heart we want more - to love God, to make
God’s Name known by our words and deeds.
And how is it that we dare to ask this of God? We ask in the name
of Jesus Christ our Lord, who told his disciples: “Very truly, I tell
you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to
you.” “Ask and you will receive, so that your
joy may be complete.” [John 16:23,24]
Even the final “Amen.” is
important. It is a prayer that closes the prayer. The word simply means,
“Let it be so.” Do we want our prayer to be answered or not? Well then
say “Amen!” “Let it be so!”
The Collect for Purity is thus a pattern for all Christian prayer. Buttrick observes: “The
collect does collect people: its necessarily general language covers
individual need, and yet provides a communal tie. Besides, it links
worship generations, joining each congregation with
the communion of saints.”
I find it wonderfully nurturing to pray a
prayer that my mother prayed, that John Wesley prayed, that Desmond Tutu
prayed, that saints in many generations have prayed. When we are
connected like that, our worship takes on a rich,
deep character that will shape us and nurture us.
Let me commend to you The Collect for Purity of Heart. Pray it.
Learn it. Internalize it. It will teach you who God is. It will deepen
your relationship to God. It will show you that you can trust Jesus and
the power of the Holy Spirit. It will nurture
you when your prayer life goes dry. And it will connect you to faithful
people everywhere.
I invite you to cut and paste this prayer into a document you will see regularly on your phone, tablet, or computer desktop. Or print it
out in a large font, and place it where you can see it prominently throughout your day. Or perhaps, better yet, write it out by hand on a note card and place it where you will regularly come across it-- on your bathroom mirror, or on your refrigerator, perhaps.
For now, join me as we pray together:
“Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by
the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and
worthily magnify your holy name: through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.”
The Rev. F. Richard Garland is a retired United Methodist pastor. He continues to contribute to the life of United Methodists and many others through his monthly newletter column, "From Where I Sit," published by the North Kingstown United Methodist Church. You may see his other columns here: http://www.nkumcri.org/spiritual-resources/from-where-i-sit.