Faith Daily | 5 October 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p588

Generous God,

whose hand is open

to fill all things living with plenteousness:

make us ever thankful for your goodness,

and grant that we, remembering the account

that we must one day give,

may be faithful stewards of your bounty;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

GOSPEL for the Day: Luke 11: 1-4

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3Give us each day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Peter Brady

Today we have Luke's account of Jesus teaching The Lord's Prayer to his follower(s).

At the time of Jesus' earthly ministry, devout Jews would pray three times daily following the example of Daniel (Daniel 6:10). It was also common for rabbis to devise prayers for their followers; doing so distinguished them from other, possibly competing, groups. Jesus' followers have noticed His pattern of prayer (how could they not) and are also aware that John's disciples have their own form of prayer(s). They want to follow Jesus' prayerful example and they want a prayer that will mark them as His followers.

Two thousand years later the prayer Jesus gave them still distinguishes His followers (although in Matthew's version rather than Luke's). It still retains a special place in supposedly 'post-Christian' societies and continues to be read at the start of each parliamentary day in the UK and Australia. As 'the Millenium Prayer' (set to the tune of Auld Lang Syne) it was a hit in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland (to name a few) in 1999. I've seen it recited at funerals of people who, the odd wedding aside, hadn't sent foot in a church for years.

This is not surprising though. It contains all the essential petitions and instructions for prayer and living and affirms that through Christ we have become the children of God, that we should love God with all our heart and soul, that we wait for the coming of the Kingdom, that everything we have or need comes from God and that we should love our neighbours as ourselves. Little wonder it is often described as the shortest summary of the Gospels. It reminds everyone that God is approachable and that prayer is something anyone can do. And for us as Christians it also requires us to mould our relationship with God and each other around it. To live and love in the same spirit as Jesus.

FINAL PRAYER

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever.

Amen.