What does that Prayer Say?

"What does that Prayer Say?"
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, July 29, 2007 at Union Congregational Church in Somonauk, Illinois.

PODCAST of "What does that Prayer Say?"

This Morning's Scripture reading is:
Luke 11:1-13

We say it every week. Most adults don’t remember when they memorized it. Children hear it so many times in their childhood that before long they know it by rote. People visiting church for the first time wonder how everyone just knows what to say. The Lord’s prayer.

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

A few years back I asked a group of youth to express the Lord's Prayer as they understand it. Here's what they came up with:

God, you are really, really great. You’re in charge, whatever you say – Everywhere. Fill our needs. Forgive us while we forgive others. Keep us on your path. Help us when we’re in trouble. You’re great – and you rule forever. Amen.

I love the freshness of the words -- but I don't want them to exist at the expense of what I've recited countless times over the years.

In this morning’s scripture reading from Luke 11:1-13, Jesus starts by telling the disciples how to pray. I've heard it often said that our recitation of the Lord's Prayer becomes empty and meaningless when we simply repeat it without understanding it. There’s a script floating around the internet called an "interactive Lord’s Prayer" where an off-camera voice responds to a person who’s just trying to recite the Lord’s prayer without really paying attention. It’s another way to keep the Lord’s Prayer from becoming empty and meaningless.

I think there is some merit to that thought, but I also think that "freshing up" the language isn't necessary for the prayer to have meaning. In our repetition of the Lord's prayer we put something so deep in our memory that when there are no words or thoughts that can express what we are feeling we can recite what is burned deep in our minds -- and God understands what our prayer really means. Think about it. In the times when we don’t have any words to pray, any one of us can probably recite the Lord’s Prayer. (Sure, some will say debts and others trespasses and others sins, but for most, the Lord’s Prayer is pretty deeply rooted in our minds.)

This week’s reading doesn’t have the whole version of the prayer we recite every week. The one we say comes from this reading, along with Matthew 6:9-13. The last part we say "For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, amen." Is included in some translations, but not in others. It comes from the prayer of King David as he asked God to bless Solomon as the next King. You can find it in 1 Chronicles 29:11-13: Yours, O LORD, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. {12} Riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might; and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. {13} And now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious name.

The Lord’s Prayer is worth reciting – repeating and memorizing. It reminds us of our relationship with God and that we are bound together as God’s community.

Your Lord’s Prayer lesson for the day . . . but there’s more to this morning’s reading.

After teaching the disciples "how to pray," (religious leaders often taught their disciples prayers to recite.) Jesus taught some more. (Can you imagine the disciples maybe saying in their minds, ‘We just wanted to learn a prayer – do you always have to turn things into a teachable moment?)

Jesus taught them about persistence in prayer:

Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.

If you take that line – apart from the teaching Jesus just did while teaching the disciples to pray, you might believe that God is like a cosmic genie – granting our requests as long as we pray enough. You might understand it like

"The Secret" (surround yourself with positive people and think positive thoughts and things will always work out for you)

"You’re Best Life Now" (Believe that you will be blessed and that you will gain wealth and you will)

"Name it – claim it" theology. (God wants you to prosper. Just claim that blessing and enjoy the rewards God has for you.")

"The Prayer of Jabez" (Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain." And God granted him what he requested -- you can do the same!)

On the other side of that, however, is the idea that when things don’t go right or that we aren’t rich or things just aren’t positive that we didn’t pray hard enough or believe enough for God to do it. "Blame the victim" when it comes to lives that aren’t turning out in a positive way.

Let me say something that I really think is important. I really believe it. And I’m not sure how everyone else will feel about what I’m going to say, but here goes:

God is not bound by our prayers – and God is not limited by our lack of them.

Do you remember what Jesus taught before the "ask, seek, knock" part? "Your kingdom come." God is in charge – we praise God and acknowledge God’s sovereignty in our lives. Our requests grow from that. We depend on God’s grace. And our God who is always faithful calls us to be faithful.

And – we can always trust – even if we can’t trust – that God is present. Whether we notice it or even believe it – God is always transforming us.

But what about that "bothering a friend at midnight" part? Doesn’t that teach that if we are persistent enough we’ll get what we ask for? Don’t many people pray and ask God for things? Not everyone, however, gets what they ask for. In church and Sunday school, we teach that God always answers – but in different ways – Yes, No and Wait a little while. Did you ever think that that is almost the same as saying ‘God doesn’t really answer prayers – things just happen better for some people and worse for others?’

I want something more than that.

Let’s look closer at the ‘friend at midnight’ part. It’s about asking his neighbor for food for a visitor, even thought the friend is fast asleep. Hospitality (another of Jesus "big things") in Jesus’ time on earth dictated that visitors must be cared for – the whole village would be embarrassed if a visitor went hungry or was mistreated. The request of the friend was took into account the needs of the whole village – not just one person.

As we pray – that’s what we’re moving towards – asking God to continue to do what is best for all – to do God’s will.

Thy Kingdom come – thy will be done.

God is not some cosmic genie. God isn’t answering prayers just because enough people pray or someone irritates God enough. But God is also listening to us every time we pray.

Are we listening for what God is communicating to us? As we pray – let’s remember that we are, together, serving the still speaking God.

It’s OK to say the Lord’s Prayer more than once (or twice) in a worship service. Let’s join together. What does that prayer say?

(Lord’s Prayer together)