Sunday Readings: Genesis 18.20-32, Colossians 2.12-14, Luke 11.1-13
Once when Jesus was in a certain place praying and when he had finished, one of his disciples said: “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Jesus replied, “Say this when you pray: ‘Father, may your name be held holy; your kingdom come; give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test’” (Luke 11.1-4).
The one prayer that Jesus specifically taught, the Our Father, contains many reasons for praying. Jesus asks us to address God as we would a loving parent, and to honor God’s name. Jesus encourages us to pray for “the kingdom,” the vision he has of a just and loving society and world. He says it’s okay, too, to pray for our very human needs: for bread, for food to nourish us, for food to eat and food to share. Most especially, he suggests that we ask for forgiveness of our sins, and that we might forgive others as God forgives us.
This great prayer we can say together with others or when we are alone with God, but it reminds us that all prayer is quite simply about communication, the attempt to maintain an intimate relationship with God as we would a close friend or a Jesus envisions a just and loving society. loving parent.
Friendship and parenthood are, in fact, the metaphors Jesus uses to explain prayer in the gospel story for today. And he tells us, keep asking; keep searching; keep knocking. God will hear our prayer and will respond, often in totally unexpected ways.
What is your relationship with God in prayer? Do you see God as a friend, a loving parent, a lover? How do you describe God to your children or grandchildren?