Pray Like This:

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Pray like this:

   Our Father in heaven,       may your name be kept holy.    10 May your Kingdom come soon.    May your will be done on earth,       as it is in heaven.    11 Give us today the food we need,    12 and forgive us our sins,       as we have forgiven those who sin against us.    13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,       but rescue us from the evil one. -Jesus (Matthew 6;9-13) Full Disclaimer: I didn’t grow up as a part of a Church at all, some would say that I actually ran from it altogether. But, when I finally put my faith in Jesus, I found myself looking at some passages that many lifelong Christians may have taken for granted. The above passage from Matthew is one of them. Jesus’ words sat like hot rocks in my stomach. I had heard them before, this time I was convicted that I had missed the plot. Badly. Do me a favor and read the passage again. Did you catch it?

Did you notice the use of pronouns?

When I pray, it is peppered with “I’s” and “Me’s”. However, Jesus gives us a model for our prayers that is counter to how I have been praying. He actually says “pray like this”...and His prayer all about community! See it now?    Our Father in heaven,      11 Give us today the food we need,    12 and forgive us our sins,       as we have forgiven those who sin against us.    13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,       but rescue us from the evil one. This prayer doesn't begin with me or my confessions. It begins by reminding everyone that God is Fathering us...everyone. We are all His children. We are a part of a Holy family, one with many brothers and sisters. Our family doesn’t stop with our zip-code and certainly not with our borders. Our perceived isolation is far too shortsighted. Our family now transcends geography and biology. Let that sink in... We have family members across town and around the world without enough food, living on the streets, dying of preventable diseases and living in the midst of violence. While our bellies are full our family members are coming to the Communion table starved. This my brothers and sisters is sin.

We are taught by Jesus to pray: “Give us today...” Again, our request for daily sustenance is not just for me or you, but for us. God is offering us a new economy. One of radical redistribution. One that is built on God’s provision and our reliance. As we take communion we believe that there is enough for all who gather. This divine meal provides a beautiful illustration for God’s new economy. This realization has captured me, and has caused my to change some things. My job. My address. My spending habits. But above these things I am sure that God desires a change of my prayers and a change of heart towards my neighbors. ...May it be so.    Our Father in heaven,       may your name be kept holy.    10 May your Kingdom come soon.    May your will be done on earth,       as it is in heaven.    11 Give us today the food we need,    12 and forgive us our sins,       as we have forgiven those who sin against us.    13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,       but from the

-Jesus (Matthew 6;9-13)

rescue us evil one.