August
15, 2010
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Red
Letter Words: Pray
In the Gospel, the disciples see Jesus praying and ask him to
teach them how to pray. His response to them is what we
generally call the Lord’s Prayer. It follows the basic
Jewish pattern of prayer: praise followed by petition. That
means that Jesus learned to pray, that he was praying within
a tradition that was handed down to him.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this simple prayer is
that it is a clear and compelling articulation of a
relationship of trust. Jesus does not hold back in asking for
what he needs, and in encouraging us to ask for what we need.
We need daily sustenance, we need forgiveness to take hold of
our lives, and we need protection from persecution. Notice
how these are things that are most readily found in
community, not in isolation.
The prayer Jesus teaches his disciples gives us a glimpse
into his relationship to the Father. But it also illustrates
the kind of relationships we should cultivate with one
another: relationships of trust, of openness, of forgiveness.
On our own, we are vulnerable to hunger and persecution. In a
loving community, we can be released from our fears, knowing
that there will always be somebody to offer us a piece of
bread or to stand with us in solidarity. When our own basic
needs are being met, we are then free to go out into the
world and be bearers of Good News and liberation to others.
The Lord’s Prayer reminds us that prayer is something
that can be taught, which means that it can be learned. That
should be good news to all of us who worry that we’re
not very good at praying. Prayer is not a competition, and
it’s okay if it doesn’t come naturally, or if you
feel like you have to work at it and you’re not really
sure that you’re doing it right. It is also important
to realize that the Holy Spirit is always there, ready to
pray through us. This also means that it is definitely
impossible to ever pray alone. Today we look at the model of
prayer given by Jesus when He taught the disciples how to
pray.
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North
Raleigh Church of the Nazarene
9200
Strickland Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27615
919.870.1141 Phone
919.870.1447 Fax
web@nrnazarene.org