Luke 11: 1-13 The Lord’s Prayer
Today’s Gospel reading from Luke gives us helpful insights into what prayer is. First, it is communication with God whom, we are invited to call, Our Father. ‘Our’ means that God is a personal being, who is with us and cares for everyone. ‘Father’ is a relationship word, inviting us to think of God in the parent/child sense.
What Mommy or Daddy would give her/his child a snake instead of a fish? Would they give a scorpion instead of an egg? As we apply Jesus’ examples to our experiences, we can understand and appreciate how God loves and responds to us.
Secondly, Jesus acknowledges what we experience: faith and feelings at odds with each another. When that happens, Jesus urges us to persist. ‘Our Father’ is always listening and cares. Let us use the faith we have, and offer our feelings to God’s Holy Spirit for divine response.
Today’s story from Luke explains these points. Our Father celebrates the personal relationship God wants with us Some ancient manuscripts record, Abba, which means Daddy. As we think of what Father or Daddy mean in a healthy parent/child relationship, we can begin to appreciate what relationship God wants with us. Our Father (or Daddy) is a personal, caring, ever present being.
Next, verses 5 – 9 give us Jesus’ frank statement of what it is like to pray. Our faith and feelings are sometimes at odds with each other. We can lose hope and energy as we pray, and are tempted to give up. But, Jesus assures us. Our prayers are heard and answered, even though we don’t always know how or when. Knowing Jesus’ teaching encourages us. So, when we feel disappointment or frustration as we pray, Jesus assures that this is normal. But, he also urges us not to give up. He urges us to persist, and he explains why.
What parent (Daddy or Mommy) would ignore their child’s request? As we consider our relationships with our children, we can begin to appreciate the relationship God wants with everyone. God’s presence with us is personal. God cares. Answers or timing from prayer may not always what be we want. Jesus knows this. Feelings and faith at odds is normal. But, Jesus urges us to continue praying and asking for what we need.
Verses 11 – 13 explain why we should persist. Jesus goes a step further with his God/parent analogy. What Mommy or Daddy would give her/his child a snake instead of a fish? Would they give a scorpion instead of an egg? As we apply Jesus’ examples to our experiences, we can understand and appreciate how God loves and responds to us. Moreover, as Jesus explains, God will give us good gifts and God’s Holy Spirit to sustain and bless us. When our feelings and faith seem to be in conflict, Jesus invites us to keep praying. God’s gift of God’s Holy Spirit is with us. Let us reach back to our God, who is always reaching out to us – personally.
When we are unsure how, if or when God will answer, verses 9 – 10 encourage us. Keep trying. ‘Knock, and the door will be opened for you.’ ‘Seek and you will find.’ God does answer our prayers. When we are unsure of this – for whatever reason – God urges us to keep trying. God promises never to fail us. God cares for us, even more than we parents (or grandparents) care for our children.
Summary
- God is a personal being – not a remote entity.
- God invites us to address God as ‘Our Father,’ to explain what kind of relationship God wants us.
- Faith and feelings sometimes are at odds. But, let us not give up. God’s Holy Spirit is always with us.