DAILY BYTE
The version of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew’s gospel is a little different from the one in Luke. In Matthew’s gospel Jesus expands the opening word ‘Father’ to ‘Our Father in heaven’. Today and tomorrow we’ll consider what this expansion has to teach us about prayer.
When I was at school there was outside the chapel a piece of charcoal slate with these words inscribed on it: When you pray say, ‘Our Father’. I read those words every day as I filed into chapel, but never fully grasped what they mean. In fact, I still don’t.
But some years back I heard Gordon Cosby from Church of the Saviour in Washington DC speak about these two words that we all use to begin the Lord’s Prayer – ‘Our Father’. He offered a simple insight, and a really helpful suggestion that has transformed the way I pray.
The insight was this: All prayer is a corporate activity. In other words we cannot pray on our own, even when it appears that we are all by ourselves without another soul around. The very act of praying binds us and connects us with many, many other people, and reminds us that we are a product of a wide community through which God’s grace has flowed directly into our lives.
When we pray, when we step over that threshold that reorients our lives towards God, we are exhibiting the grace-filled influence of others in our lives and their ongoing intercessions for us.
To become more conscious of this great corporate activity, Gordon Cosby suggests that whenever we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we consciously allow the opening words ‘Our Father’ to stir within us memories of those who have shaped our lives - grandparents, parents, siblings, spouses, and other family members. Teachers, mentors, authors, artists, poets, gospel ministers, church leaders and friends. It takes a little practice at first, and a little time, consciously calling people to mind, remembering them by name. But with practice this awareness of the great community who have helped to shape who you are comes to lodge within you, and is accessible as you pray ‘Our Father.’
And then, as you say those words, think of the great community that you are called to influence – your spouse, your children, your grandchildren, other family and friends, students, colleagues, fellow congregants. And yes, think how you have fallen short in the influence that has been yours, but how you can get up and try again, with those who have gone before cheering you on, and those who will follow saying ‘thank you’.
And with these and over all these, there is a Father who is the Lord and God of us all who draws us and holds us all together, as one.
PRAY-AS-YOU-GO
Lord, our praying reminds us that we are not alone! Thank you for all those who have helped to mould and shape who we are, and for their ongoing intercession, together with your Spirit, on our behalf. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity.
Hebrews 12:1-3, 12-14 (The Message)
