ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
October 26, 2021
How we pray says a lot about who we are, what we value and how we perceive God. This was true in the days of Jesus as most teachers had a prayer or style of prayer reflective of their unique vision. In the 11th chapter of Luke’s Gospel, the disciples were seeking just such a prayer when they said, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come…” We know the prayer as the Lord’s Prayer, yet when you begin to really explore the different phrases, you uncover a bit more about Jesus. When Jesus invited his disciples to pray for God’s kingdom to come, it only makes sense that he was inviting them to do what he was already doing. He was a reflection of God’s kingdom coming to earth, and for us to be able to pray with any sort of integrity the words, “your kingdom come…” is to request our lives to align with the life of Jesus. And this makes sense as Jesus will later tell his disciples how the kingdom of God is already among them (Luke 17).
O Heavenly God, it is you that has found flesh in the one they called Jesus of Nazareth. Let us take his life as our example for kingdom living here on earth. Amen.
