Lord, Teach Us to Pray
I was about 7 when I first learned it. At Peace, my home congregation growing up, we had these booklets that we got in Sunday School. In that booklet were different things that we could learn about church including the books of the Old and New Testament, the Apostle’s creed, the Nicene creed, the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer (both versions). If you learned them and were able to tell them to your parents, one of the pastors and another church member then you got recognition at different levels, like learning 3, 5 and all 7. I remember when I got my booklet. I flipped through and decided to start learning the Lord’s Prayer because it was the easiest and the shortest thing in there. My people pleasing side had majorly kicked in. I wanted that recognition so why not start with the easiest and the shortest? As I have grown and prayed the Lord’s Prayer for about 18 years now, it still seems too short sometimes, but I have realized more and more that it is anything but easy.
Jesus’ disciples approach him in the gospel lesson this morning after he has spent one of his many silent moments praying in a place by himself. One of them asks him point blank “Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples.” I find this really interesting. Why would this disciple add in the last qualifier “As John taught his disciples”? A common interpretation is that this disciple was using John as a reference point, “Jesus, John taught his disciples how to pray. Can you do the same thing for us?” A simple request to learn to be more like Jesus since that was the disciple’s job, to become more like their rabbi. Learning to pray like him would be step in that direction. A reflection I had were that maybe the disciples knew something of the prayer John had taught his disciples and they wanted something cool too. While they were hangin out by the Jordan, John’s disciples would pray the prayer he taught them and it was awesome. So the twelve got a little jealous, anxious, or competitive because they knew that any prayer Jesus would teach them would smoke John’s prayer. It would be hands-down, the best prayer ever. But they couldn’t show it off yet because Jesus hadn’t taught them how to pray! Oh no!
Either way you look at it, Jesus teaches them a prayer that we now say every Sunday and even sometimes in between. The Lord’s Prayer. Luke’s version of the prayer is a bit abridged. If you’re looking for the one closer to the one we say it’s in the gospel of Matthew. Jesus’ model for prayer is pretty simple in its formula. It starts with praising God and acknowledging God’s work. It then asks for sustaining things (daily bread), relationship things (forgiveness), and safety (time of trial). That’s it. And that’s a wrap! Just pray like that, keeping those few things in mind and you’re golden. Sermon done! Not quite…
If we stopped there it would leave something left to be desired, especially since we’ve read that parable about the persistent friend and also Jesus’ words about asking, seeking and knocking. We’ve all had experiences where we have been persistent and shameless about asking for things from God, seeking God in those tough moments and pounding louder and harder on the door than Fred Flintstone. And we’re not talking trivial things, but big stuff like healing for friends and family, a job so we can support our family, when we’re afraid or anxious, and when tragedy, death and destruction happens. We’ve also experienced when those prayers have gone unanswered.
I don’t claim to know much of anything about unanswered prayer. There are all kinds of answers that are given in those circumstances. Some can be unintentionally hurtful like, “it was part of God’s plan.” Some are about the nature of God like, “Well maybe it just seemed like God didn’t answer, but the answer came in a different form.” Some might come from us beating ourselves up “Well maybe I wasn’t as persistent as I thought. If I had just prayed more…” What I can tell you is what I firmly believe in. I place my trust in God and not in the prayer I pray. My trust is in God and God’s unfailing love and grace for us, not in anything I can come up with on my own.
God’s love and faithfulness is present even though we may not always be able to see it. Jesus illustrates it by talking about people giving gifts. We know how to give good gifts to our children, even though we may not always be the best at it. Jesus shares God’s promise with us “If you then, who are evil (ouch), know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” God will give in abundance the Holy Spirit. Jesus doesn’t say that it will be exactly what we want or what we ask for specifically, but rather the answer is the Holy Spirit through which we receive peace, love, understanding, community and all sorts of other blessings.
What I think is one of the most captivating things about this prayer filled with trust and reliance is the unity it brings. The Lord’s Prayer is written with the community always in mind. It’s never give me today, or forgive me, or lead me not, but always us. It also unites us as the whole Christian church.
I was sitting in Starbucks the other day and it’s always interesting to hear the different drink names. Who thinks they have the craziest Starbucks drink order? The combinations at Starbucks can be really intimidating for a first timer. You can always tell who they are because they stand and stare at the menu board for a while. It’s a language all its own. This idea gets worse when it comes to people talking about theology. When theologians start talking about sanctification and justification and all of the –iations it gets tough to comprehend. At the end of the day when we get together to worship we all pray the Lord’s Prayer. Here in a little bit when we say it together millions of Christians all over the world will be saying it too. It was also said by our grandparents and great-grandparents and our great great grandparents. We teach it to our children and they’ll teach it to their children and they’ll teach it to their children. Really old or really young this is a prayer that can cut through the noise and the confusion of life to reassert our trust in God and God’s unfailing love. A prayer that brings us all together in unity. A prayer that Jesus taught us. A true gift.
I want to end with an illustration of all of this that I bring back with me from camp. It’s a participatory illustration which means you have to help or it will fail miserably. I’m asking you to do this because I believe in you and if you don’t believe in yourself, well… I don’t mind looking silly in front of you all. Here in a minute I want you to begin praying out loud. It doesn’t have to be anything special just start praying and giving God your thoughts and feelings. Then when you hear a prayer you recognize join in. I want to encourage you to listen closely as we are all praying and take your time. It’s not a race. Listen as we pray… (As everyone prays for a bit begin saying the Lord’s Prayer with everyone joining in. The final Amen is the end of the sermon).
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