Reflections
July 25th
Luke 11:1-13
The disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray.Religious leaders at this time, perhaps including John the Baptizer, taught formalaic prayers to their followers. In this passage Jesus teaches his followers such a prayer. Since that day, those who pray this prayer are identified as Jesus'followers. The Lord's Prayer, is known by various names: The Lord's Prayer, Jesus'Prayer, The Our Father, or the Prayer Jesus Taught. Many consider the prayer as a formula to be followed rather than a piece to be recited verbatim.
Jesus addresses God as "Father,"echoing his prayer in Luke 10:21-22. Some contemporary Christians are not comfortable with this masculine term of address. In Jesus'day, fathers had extensive, even coercive, power over their families. Jesus seeks to establish God's generosity, compassion, and faithfulness toward all God's children. In verses 5-13, Jesus expands on how what this heavenly parent provides is far above all earthly expectation.
God is addressed and described as "holy"or "hallowed,"that is, "set apart from the world."The words of prayer then proclaim the hope that God's will - God's way of being and desire - will be present in the world.
The next statements ask God to provide for three basic human needs - the provision of food, restoration of individuals and communities by forgiveness, and protection of the world. We can imagine that when these three things are fully achieved, then God's reign will have come indeed.
Jesus moves on to describe further to whom we are praying. Jesus structures a "lesser to greater"description of God's goodness using two striking images. The image of a neighbour refusing to provide hospitality would have seemed absurd to Jesus'first hearers; hospitality was a social requirement at that time. The image of a parent who gives a child snakes and scorpions assumes that even the least suitable of parents provide basic care.These stories lead readers to perceive God's goodness as exceeding that of any earthly neighbour or parent. God will always hear and respond to our prayers - not because it is in God's nature to be generous and loving.
Hosea 1:2-10
God's nature of love and compassion always emerges, even when God's people are unfaithful, such as the time described here. Though the people of Israel treat God abominably and the prophet utters a devastating word from God - "you are not my people"- all is not lost. The people once again will be called "children of the living God.
Psalm 85
The writer of this psalm knows God's deep desire for a covenant relationship with Israel and is confident that God's favour and pardon will prevail. The psalmist declares that the answer to the nation's lament - "Will you be angry with us forever?"- is no.
Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19)
Our relationship with God is possible only because of who God is and what God has done for us. The writer places the substance of our relationship with God squarely in the nature of God, not in human rituals.
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Shaped by Prayer
Today's readings lift up God's nature of love and compassion, and assure us of God's readiness to hear and attend to our prayers. Prayer shapes the heart of a disciple's relationship with God. As Jesus taught and modelled, prayer keeps us nourished to live and share the good news of God's love in Christ.
Today we are invited to visualize ourselves asking, seeking, and knocking unceasingly - to be confident that to persist in prayer is to move forward in faith, hope, and love. Our understanding of the nature of God informs our life of prayer.
When have you felt shaped by your prayers or the prayers of others?
How do you and your church seek to be shaped by prayer?
"Increase our faith, and open us to trust your intentions for our lives. Through Christ, shape us to live more persistently in your ways. Amen."
