Asking the clergy about Super Bowl prayers

It is a safe bet that Giants fever is rising all across Long Island. With fans of both teams praying for a Super Bowl win, we asked the clergy if God hears their pleas.

Pastor Justin Lathrop, Ascension Lutheran Church, Deer Park:

Well, if God did answer all our prayers, then my Philadelphia Eagles and my wife's beloved Jets would be playing tomorrow.

What would be an appropriate prayer for sports combatants? Prayers for players' health and safety are especially appropriate.

We have a rich history of looking to God for assistance. Jesus told us we can always go to God in prayer. Before most major battles, the Israelites prayed to God to grant them victory. The truth is that God does promise to hear and answer all our prayers. He just doesn't promise to always say "yes." If God did, we'd all win the lottery, drive fancy cars and look like movie stars.

While God does promise to hear our pleas, sometimes that answer is "no," or "not yet." And, as important as a sporting event may be to some of us, the fact is that God probably has bigger fish to fry.

There is, however, a prayer that God will always answer in the affirmative. God promises his love and presence will always be with us -- especially in the times when we don't get what we want or think we need.

The Rev. John F. Underwood, Community Presbyterian Church, Deer Park:

Of course, we can pray for "our" team to win Super Bowl XLVI. But we need to understand that such prayer is the adult equivalent of a child who prays for a snow day.

Whether we frame such a desire as prayer, God already knows what is in our hearts. I believe God has no trouble distinguishing between prayers that come from fervent excitement and prayers that come from a spiritual desire for closeness to God or from a devout concern for healing, peace or relief for the hungry.

However fervently we feel our sports prayers (even those fueled by the wagers some people have made), such prayers are little more than the wishes and fantasies of our hearts. One hallmark of such petitions is that God cannot satisfy the desires of all those who offer those prayers. People on both sides will pray for victory, but God cannot make both teams win.

While prayers that seek growth of faith or intercede for people in need are deeper, richer and more spiritually satisfying forms of prayer, nonetheless prayers that come from excitement and fantasy -- including prayers for a Super Bowl victory -- may truly be prayers from our hearts.

Pastor Jerry Adams, Faith Evangelical Church, Garden City:

Yes, God does hear all our prayers. Whether he answers them in a way we expect is up to him. If someone is praying to win a bet based on the Super Bowl, I don't see that as a good prayer to pray.

God hears prayers. But, it doesn't mean he's going to answer them the way you want. There are three answers to prayer: yes, no and wait. I'm not into praying for sports teams to win or lose.

The very breath that I have is given by God. I think, as an athlete, I should thank him if I've played well. If I pray to him and during the game I've had trouble and didn't win, then maybe God's trying to show me something else. Maybe he's trying to speak to my heart on some other issue.

There's nothing wrong with praying for your team. The problem would be if you expect God to be manipulated by the prayer to grant your own will and desires. If you're going to pray about the game, pray that the Giants do their best and that there are no serious injuries.

Rabbi Yechiel Shaffer, assistant rabbi, The Hampton Synagogue, Westhampton Beach:

Judaism believes God is almighty and doesn't need anything from us. He doesn't need us to pray to him. Prayer is for ourselves and to reflect on our God-given talents.

Those playing in the Super Bowl have God-given athletic talent. There is an element of success here that is out of our hands as fans and their hands as athletes. All our talents are bestowed upon us by God, who has given us an opportunity to fulfill a purpose in the world, whether it is athletically, academically or economically.

Prayer should be a humbling experience. We should be thankful for everything God has given us in this life. It should be a reflective process. Why am I here? What am I doing with this life? How can I improve myself? You should be attempting to be transformed. Then, God can interact with you differently.