Well, it's Tuesday in the first week of Lent, and behold, the scriptures call us to learn how to pray (one of those three key attitudes that we may need to work on during these weeks).
I always find it interesting that the passages (which are pre-assigned) create a certain tension while at the same time speaking very eloquently to the situation we face. In this case, the book of Isaiah (55:10-11) reminds us of the power of God's word which is never idle, but always working and accomplishing that for which it was sent. So of course my mind starts wandering ... for what purpose is God's word sent today?
The answer came in the gospel passage (Mt 6:7-15). Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. He tells them not to babble unnecessarily. How many times do we do just this? Prayer for many is defined by memorized words which are repeated. This is indeed a valid way of praying, but Jesus calls us to another level of prayer: daring to speak to the Father as though he were a visitor who arrived at our door. Admittedly, this is not a custom that comes easily for some, but at least for this person, the concept of a conversation with God is intriguing, and I dare say that the potential is for such a conversation to be continuous, always life-giving.
Jesus teaches his disciples to pray, not using endless phrases, but petitions that speak powerfully about implicit faith and trust, as well as a willingness on our part to do what we can to bring about the promised kingdom:
Our father, who art in heaven
We address the one who is our father, having the relationship of a loving father with the rest of his family. We confirm the belief expressed by the divine Son that God is in heaven, the kingdom toward which each of us is destined.
Hallowed be thy name
In today`s parlance, we might rephrase this sentiment as may your name always be held holy. This begs the question, do we do everything we can to always treat the relationship between us and God as one of privilege? Do we recognize Him as always holy, set apart?
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
This particular phrase comes with an interesting prospect. The prayer calls for God's kingdom of peace, love and forgivenss to be made manifest on earth, but we are the ones who have been entrusted with the care of the earth, and with the task of bringing about that which we pray for.
Give us this day our daily bread
This petition has little to do with the stuff made from yeast, flour and water, but rather it's about asking for the things we need in order to continue the work of proclaiming the kingdom. Oh, and just enough of the stuff we need to be sustained, no more no less than we need for each day, one at a time.
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.
Praying for forgivess is understood, but the trick with this part of the prayer is that we ask for forgiveness in the measure to which we ourselves are willing to forgive others who wrong us. This is putting your money where your mouth is ... literally.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Having committed to doing our part, we ask for divine protection from the power of temptation. This harkens back to the first chapters of the book of Genesis and the temptations and fall from grace experienced by Adam and Eve. Imagine how life might have been different if Adam and Eve had thought to pray for protection before they fell prey to temptation.
Ah, don`t forget the last word ... Amen ... literally let it be so. This last word also commits us to doing our part to make sure that the things we prayed for will actually come true.
Prayer should always invite us into an intimate relationship with the One who loves us, and a relationship that is built on love always has room to welcome the sinner even as it challenges each of us to be the best we possibly can be, all for love of the one who first loved us.
I always find it interesting that the passages (which are pre-assigned) create a certain tension while at the same time speaking very eloquently to the situation we face. In this case, the book of Isaiah (55:10-11) reminds us of the power of God's word which is never idle, but always working and accomplishing that for which it was sent. So of course my mind starts wandering ... for what purpose is God's word sent today?
Jesus teaches his disciples to pray, not using endless phrases, but petitions that speak powerfully about implicit faith and trust, as well as a willingness on our part to do what we can to bring about the promised kingdom:
Our father, who art in heaven
We address the one who is our father, having the relationship of a loving father with the rest of his family. We confirm the belief expressed by the divine Son that God is in heaven, the kingdom toward which each of us is destined.
Hallowed be thy name
In today`s parlance, we might rephrase this sentiment as may your name always be held holy. This begs the question, do we do everything we can to always treat the relationship between us and God as one of privilege? Do we recognize Him as always holy, set apart?
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
This particular phrase comes with an interesting prospect. The prayer calls for God's kingdom of peace, love and forgivenss to be made manifest on earth, but we are the ones who have been entrusted with the care of the earth, and with the task of bringing about that which we pray for.
Give us this day our daily bread
This petition has little to do with the stuff made from yeast, flour and water, but rather it's about asking for the things we need in order to continue the work of proclaiming the kingdom. Oh, and just enough of the stuff we need to be sustained, no more no less than we need for each day, one at a time.
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.
Praying for forgivess is understood, but the trick with this part of the prayer is that we ask for forgiveness in the measure to which we ourselves are willing to forgive others who wrong us. This is putting your money where your mouth is ... literally.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Having committed to doing our part, we ask for divine protection from the power of temptation. This harkens back to the first chapters of the book of Genesis and the temptations and fall from grace experienced by Adam and Eve. Imagine how life might have been different if Adam and Eve had thought to pray for protection before they fell prey to temptation.
Ah, don`t forget the last word ... Amen ... literally let it be so. This last word also commits us to doing our part to make sure that the things we prayed for will actually come true.
Prayer should always invite us into an intimate relationship with the One who loves us, and a relationship that is built on love always has room to welcome the sinner even as it challenges each of us to be the best we possibly can be, all for love of the one who first loved us.
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