The Lord's Prayer

In Luke 11, Jesus’ disciples ask him to teach them how to pray, and Jesus replies by teaching them what we know as the Lord’s Prayer. Part of Jesus’ lesson on prayer is also about persistence in prayer, that God answers pray-ers not only out of God’s love and benevolence but also because prayers are offered continually and relentlessly. “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11.9–10)

What does this mean? That God is like a genie in a bottle, ready to fill our orders? That God will give us absolutely anything we ask for, satisfy our every whim, no matter how self-serving? Hey, I could get used to that: “Give me a million dollars, God.” Poof! “And when I run through that million, give me a million more.” Poof! “Strike down my enemies.” Poof! “And, hey, come to think of it, punish that guy who just cut me off on the highway.” Poof! “End war. End poverty. End hate. Just don’t expect me to sacrifice or change to make those things happen.”

It’s hard to know fully what Jesus meant by, “Ask, and it will be given.” But I think a good place to start is at the beginning of the lesson: “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.” (Luke 11.2–4) What are the things about which Jesus tells us to pray, and to do so persistently?

That God’s kingdom may come. That God’s will may be done. This is your world, God. Let it be as you would have it.

Give us what we need each day; not what we want or whim, but what we need – enough food, enough clothing, enough shelter; and may everyone have enough; and since it is about what you desire, help us to share what you give so everyone has enough.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Expect us to forgive as fully as you have forgiven us, God. And if we don’t extend our forgiveness to others, it’s only fair you should be as stingy toward us. May our forgiveness of others be as generous and complete as your forgiveness of us.

A sermon accompanying this post can be heard via podcast at http://revbob.podbean.com/2010/07/27/july-25-2010/