Clergy from left, Deacon Amy Schmuck, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill and The Rev. Lynn Finnegan. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By Deacon Amy Schmuck
Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church
“He (Jesus) 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.’
So he said to them,
‘When you pray, say:
Father may your name be revered as holy.
May your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.’” –Luke 11:1-4
This framework of words that Jesus gives to his curious disciples to help them to learn how to pray to God in the above text is the Gospel lesson that will be read in many churches that follow the Revised Common Lectionary each Sunday on July 27. This framework also shows up in Matthew 6:9-13 with some slightly different words. A blending of both these instructional scriptures created what Christians call “The Lord’s Prayer” and is prayed individually and communally all over creation.
It’s a beautiful gift Jesus gives us, and once learned, can be spoken by rote. When invited in a worship setting to pray the prayer that Jesus taught us in the “version or language that resonates most with you”, particularly in an international context where many come from all cultures and backgrounds imaginable, this moment in worship can feel like a version of the day of Pentecost! Hearing many languages but knowing that the spiritual language being lifted to God is the same is extremely powerful!
There is reverence and worship of God, there is submission to God’s kingdom to come, and obedience to God’s will to be done, there is a petition to ask for what we need, and forgiveness with the recognition and confession that we must forgive one another as well, and a petition to be saved from the time of trial. Jesus doesn’t instruct us to give God a long laundry list of what we think God ought to do in this world. Jesus instructs us to be humble, to be obedient, to forgive, and to allow ourselves to be saved. This simple prayer has a beautiful and wondrous depth that spans across culture, time, and geography.
May the next time you are at a loss for words because the world has either broken your heart, or filled you with great wonder, these words give you a framework to offer up your response to God.
May this prayer bring a new song in your heart the next time you grieve a loss or celebrate a new creation in your life. May your heart always be open to receive what this prayer offers to individuals and to the whole world. May the Lord’s prayer become your prayer and bring you fresh perspective on how you may join in co-creating a new thing in God’s kingdom with God’s peace and love at the center. Amen.
Editor’s note: ‘All Shall Be Well’ is a column written by local women clergy including The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Rector, Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church (momaryannhill@gmail.com); The Rev. Lynn Finnegan, Associate Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith, Santa Fe (rev.lynn@holyfaithchurchsf.org); Deacon Amy Schmuck, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (deaconamy@bethluth.com); and ELCA Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, M.Div., retired (czoebidd@gmail.com).
Scene during a drive on Friday of storms over Kansas. Courtesy/Amy Schmuck