Would it be necessary to remind us of the emphasis that the Church has put on this prayer for centuries? ‘‘Our Father in Heaven’’ is probably the most taught and the most recited Christian prayer in the world. Yet, it is a bit strange that only 2 gospels out of 4, mention it. How can we explain that Peter and John who were the closest to the Lord and who were among the few selected 3 or 4, did not deem it useful or necessary to come back to it? Mark was Peter’s spiritual son (1Peter 5:13) but when he wrote his gospel, he stayed silent on this prayer and so did John. After reading the Acts of the Apostles and the different letters of the New Testament, we don’t get any certainty that the early Christians used to recite ‘‘Our Father in Heaven.’’ Is it because the event did not really take place? Not at all, because Luke who traced all things accurately before writing his gospel, did mention the ‘Pater Noster’.
I think that if John and Peter (and thus Mark) do not say a word about it, it is simply because they had understood the deepest meaning of this prayer. They had understood that ‘‘Our Father in Heaven’’ was infinitely more than a litany. It is written: “…With many such parables He spoke the Word to them, even as they were able to hear” and “I have spoken these things to you in allegories. An hour comes when I will no longer speak to you in allegories, but I will reveal the Father plainly to you.” (Mark 4:33; John 16:25, ISV). Jesus used to speak to His disciples (and not just to the crowd) in parables, in figures of speech and each one of them would grasp what was given to him to comprehend. What if ‘‘Our Father in heaven’’ is in fact a parable?...
Let’s go back to the context of this teaching. Luke tells us that Jesus had just finished praying when a disciple asked Him to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1). It is important to remember that these were not people who knew nothing about prayer. One just has to think of Esther and Daniel’s fasts, read David psalms, lean on Moses’ life, see Hannah imploring the divine grace for a son or listen to Abraham interceding for Sodom, to notice that the Israelites prayed and prayed with results. Moreover, some of Jesus’ disciples had been John The Baptist’s before and knew how to pray like him, at least. So we are talking about men who were obviously acquainted with the subject, but who nevertheless asked the Lord to be taught on it. Why?
They must have discovered that there was something totally different about His prayer life or better still, they had noted that His own prayers requests were always granted (John 11:42) and wished to know His secret. Whatever the case, Jesus replied, saying:
“ So, then, you should pray this way: Our Father who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come; Your will be done, as it is in Heaven, also on the earth. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil, for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory to the ages. Amen.’’ (Mathieu 6:9-13, LITV)
“…When you pray, say, Our Father who is in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, let Your kingdom come, let Your will be done on earth as it also is in Heaven. Give us our needed bread day by day; and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil.” (Luke 11:2-4, LITV)
Taken at surface value, this prayer is just what it has always seemed to be; but in reality, one of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God is hidden in it (Mark 4:11). And this is what Jesus actually meant and said:
“Here is the key to see all your prayers answered and to reach the degree of intimacy and communion that I have with the Father. Your life should be a permanent tribute to God’s lordship. You should never forget that your Father is also and above all, the King of kings: always be diligent to do His will. Every action and every word of your life should reflect your entire dependence on Him for any and everything. Since you're not perfect yourselves, do not hesitate to pardon: be a peacemaker. If you always behave like this, the Lord God Almighty will give you your heart’s desires and He will carry out all your purposes! That is the secret; and is also entitled: 'Delight yourself in the Lord.'”
Peter, John Mark, Paul and others, did not insist on ‘‘Our Father in Heaven’’ because they understood it was more than just a prayer. They fully realized there was a mystery of the Kingdom of God hidden in it: that of the lifestyle of Princes and Princesses.
‘‘Our Father in Heaven’’ is another way of simply saying: ‘‘Lord, I come from You, I depend on You, I am not nothing without You, I can do nothing without You and I wouldn’t dare take credit for anything. Command and I will go; Heavenly Father, my life is Yours.’’
No comments:
Post a Comment