When You Pray…
My spouse John and I like to walk. Many mornings you will find us walking along the Holliston Rail Trail, a nearly 7 mile long path that meanders through our small town, from one end to another; extending from the downtown area through the woods in both directions.
It’s a peaceful path. We see all kinds of natural life along the way – trees that provide shade for those on the path and coverage for the deer that leap through the woods; streams and wetland that provide habitat for the turtles and frogs and ducks and beavers and muskrats and heron. We see all kinds of diverse people – people of all different ages – babies in strollers; kids and adults on bikes; youth, teenagers, young adults, middle aged and older people – and people of many different ethnicities and languages. There are some people we see every morning; and we greet each other with a sign of welcome, giving us a sense of community.
The Rail Trail is a great place to experience the beauty of God’s creation – in the fresh air; in the movement of the body; in connection with animals and birds and the natural environment; in relationship with people with whom we share this path. It is a great place to feel God’s presence among us; to catch a glimpse of God’s kingdom breaking open all around us on the path we are walking.
Walking the path of the Rail Trail is one of the places where I go to pray.
Our gospel reading this morning reminds us that Jesus frequently went off to a certain place – wherever that happened to be at the moment – to pray. His relationship with God – his connection with God – was so important to him that he made it a priority to leave his followers to find a place to spend time with God.
Jesus’ disciples noticed this habit that he had, of going off to pray. I wonder if they noticed anything different about Jesus when he came back. Did they see a change in him? Was he transformed in some way? Did he appear calmer to them? Was he at peace?
I wonder if his followers considered that maybe Jesus was able to meet the demands of his public ministry – walking from village to village; teaching and healing and telling stories and feeding people and confronting the religious authorities – with mercy and compassion because he spent so much time in prayer – that is, in close conversation with God; speaking and listening to God.
Finally, one day, the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray. They ask Jesus for a new way to live their lives. They want to be changed; transformed.
Jesus responds with a prayer that is simple, yet full of wisdom. It’s a prayer that we know well; yet, today, listen to it again in the words recorded in Luke.
Jesus says to us, When you pray, say:
Father, may your name be revered as holy.
May 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.
What do you notice in these words that are so familiar yet now sound a bit different? Do you hear God speaking to you a new way?
Here’s a few things I notice –
Father, may your name be revered as holy.
Notice that this opening sentence focuses our attention solely on God. It’s as if Jesus is saying to us – worship God and only God; honor God’s name as the Creator of the world; give thanks and praise for all God has created.
May your kingdom come.
Notice that there’s no mention of heaven; we are not told where God’s kingdom is. It’s as if Jesus is saying to us – God’s kingdom is all around you; God’s kingdom comes wherever God’s will is done; open your hearts and minds and see God’s kingdom breaking open on the path you are walking now.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Notice that this request is plural – us/our; we are asking not only for ourselves; we are asking on behalf of all people in the world; we are praying that every person might have the food they need and all that they need to live well today. It’s as if Jesus is saying to us – God provides enough bread for all people every day; do not be greedy; do not hoard more than you need; do not be cruel and withhold food from people who are starving.
And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
Notice that here we are committing ourselves to change – we are letting go of the debt (obligations) we feel we are owed by people who have hurt us or betrayed us or wronged us in some way. It’s as if Jesus is saying to us – God forgives you for the evil you have done and the pain you have caused the people around you; now you are free to live in right relationship with God and with everyone you meet on the path you are walking together.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.
Notice that this is a cry for mercy on behalf of all people; a plea to be kept safe in times of chaos and evil and oppression. It’s as if Jesus is saying to us – God is watching over the world; God is watching over you (plural) in ways you do not always see; trust that God is present even now to bring you into a world of justice and mercy and steadfast love.
The good news for today is that, in these ancient and familiar words, Jesus is once again teaching us how to follow him along the path that leads us into a deeper relationship with the God who creates us all and who loves us all with an everlasting love.
The good news for today is that God desires to be in intimate relationship with us; God is longing to hear our prayers; our joys and concerns; our requests and laments – for ourselves, for other people and for the world.
The good news for today is that God is waiting to welcome us into God’s kingdom of justice and peace and love – both now, wherever we find ourselves on the path of life; at the time of our death; and in the time that is to come, when Jesus returns in glory to reign over all creation.
When you pray, say… Jesus says to us. When you pray these words that Jesus gives us, you will feel the power of the Holy Spirit breathing into you; pouring God’s whole being into you; changing you and transforming you; giving you all that you need to walk the path of love in the kin-dom of God, for the sake of the whole world. That is enough for this day.