Luke 11:1-13
A powerful and undisputed truth emerges from this Gospel story that Jesus prayed and prayed often. We read that he went away to pray frequently. He was known to withdraw from the crowds into a wilderness in order to pray alone for as long as forty days and forty nights. The Disciples often saw the results of his praying in public as he went about teaching and healing. … They recognized that he knew something about prayer that they did not know. When Jesus prayed, it frequently ended on a powerfully positive note: “Be healed. Stand and walk. Open your eyes and see. In the case of the dead Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha, “Unbind him and let him go.” The Disciples wanted to be able to pray like Jesus. They wanted power in their prayers. So, one of them asked for help: “Teach us how to pray.”
According to Luke, 11:2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 11:3 Give us each day our daily bread. 11:4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial." Luke’s version of the prayer is shorter than Matthew’s. It is not the one we can recite without looking at the Book of Common Prayer, but includes all of the important elements of prayer: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, petition, and intercession. Prayers feel right when each of these elements is included.
Who we are as individuals and as a society is usually the product of who we were and where we have been. Who and what we become are dependent on how we understand and embrace or reject the lessons of our lives as our values are forming.
The history of our Faith Values begins with God our creator, continues through the story of the people of Israel, is made clear through the presence of the Son of God our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ, grows as we interact with his witnesses in our daily lives, and culminates in our responses to the gifts offered in these lessons. Our prayers are founded in this faith history.
The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. A lesson here to be noticed is that prayer is learned behavior. A baby can drink from a bottle with out being taught, but it cannot learn to pray without being taught to pray. A toddler can learn to talk and walk without being taught to walk and talk, but it cannot learn to pray without being taught to pray. Where did you learn to pray? Think about it.
There was a tradition in the Robling and McDonald families to take every baby to church six weeks after birth to be baptized. That was the beginning of church in the child’s life….church, church, church, and more church. We did not just attend church on Sunday morning. We attended on Sunday mornings and evenings, Wednesday evenings, and virtually every evening during summers. I remember attending church every Sunday for sixteen years without missing. I was learning to pray and faith was developing.
I was a sickly little kid until the age of seven or eight years because of the circumstances of birth. Mother had been advised that she was not physically capable of giving birth. We were too poor to go to a hospital. So, I came into this world with several severe injuries, on our kitchen table, in a house without electricity or water. We could not afford to go to a hospital or have a real medical doctor.
I remember, as a small child constantly being sick of being sick. I cannot remember yesterday, now that I am sixty-four, but I can remember those childhood years as though they were yesterday.
I remember vividly, at the age of four, asking my dad, “What are Elders?” He replied that Elders are the leaders of the church and he asked why I was asking about Elders. I told him that our preacher said in his Sunday morning sermon that if the Elders anointed and prayed for a person, that person would become well. I continued, “I want to be well Dad.”
Within a few hours Dad, two of my uncles, and a great-uncle by marriage were standing over me. Their hands were on my head. They were praying for me and anointing me with oil. I was learning the faith and about prayer. I think that memories of that experience are the reason our Thursday Communion and Healing service here at St. Anthony on the Desert is my favorite service. Every time Father Jon lays his hands on our heads, anoints us with oil, and prays for our healing, I remember that childhood experience.
Dad was drafted for WWII shortly after the anointing experience. I already knew about war. Our little coalmining/college town only had a population of 3500. Everyone knew everyone else’s business. I had watched men and boys leave for war, the Western Union man bringing messages, and the men and boys return in boxes draped with flags. There were always six Navy or Army guys with them carrying rifles. One carried a bugle. We all gathered at the local cemetery with each one of them and buried them. War meant you go to war, get killed, and come home in flag-draped box.
I understood that Dad was going to war, would be killed, and would come home in a box. Much to my surprise, he returned home within a few months as a disabled veteran. He became pastor of two churches and attended school for ordination. He was using something called the GI Bill for money to go to school. Some of us here today remember what that means.
I was so thrilled to have Dad back. I did not want him out my sight. Every time he left the house, I would plead to go with him. He usually took me with him. Sometimes he would say, “I am going to be with Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones is dying. You will have to be very quite.” This five-year-old boy would stand quietly and watch Dad take the hands of dying people and pray with them or for them. Every time he prayed, there was a powerful presence in the room. It was the Holy Spirit. I felt it.
Sometimes Dad would say, “We are going to visit the Smith family. Their mother died. You will need to be very quiet.” I watched as he prayed and brought comfort to families with words from Jesus. Every time he prayed for families, there was a mighty presence of the Holy Spirit and the families were comforted. I felt the presence of the Spirit.
These are my stories of learning to pray and the development of my faith values.
Each of us learned in different ways to pray. For some it was from the Book of Common Prayer. It is a wonderful resource. Take the time to read every prayer in it this week. You will be inspired. The prayers are beautifully worded and express every need and expression of gratitude necessary for talking with God.
Each of us here today is blessed with having been taught to pray. Obligations came with that blessing.
There many people around us who have never learned to pray.
In the Arizona Republic this week we read: A steep rise in the number of people who said they currently have no religion: 14% in 2002, up from 9% in 1992. It's even higher for younger people: Among those born in 1980 or later, 27% said they have no religion. "Each succeeding group is less religious than the preceding.”
This data indicates that we are becoming a Godless nation…..a Godless society. Who will change this situation of Godlessness? Who will teach them? Who has the responsibility for teaching them?...... We do!..... If we do not teach them faith and how to pray, how will they experience the full joy of living? It is not possible to enjoy life fully without knowing the salvation made possible by Jesus. There is no joy greater than that of talking with “Our Father.”
For the sake of our world, nation, community, families, and our great-great-great grandchildren we must teach the faithless ones as Christ taught the Disciples and us. The task is not complicated. It is as simple as letting the light of Christ shine through your words and deeds. Christ can be seen in our lives through smiles, good deeds, hugs, serving people, and a twinkle in our eye that says, “Jesus loves you and so do I.” Sometimes they will learn from us without us even knowing it.
Many of you know that I do some substitute teaching in a couple of the local high schools. I teach to have opportunities for telling life stories based on Christian principles. We never mention Christian principles. We must not have God in our schools. Occasionally the light of Christ shines through one of the stories.
A young girl stopped me not long ago and said, “Mr. R, I know that you are a Christian and I need your help. I replied that I do not discuss my religion at school. She was persistent. “But, Mr. R you must help me. I asked her how I might be of help. She said, “I am losing my faith. Did you ever lose your faith, Mr. R?” I replied that my faith weakened often when I was young. She asked, “What did you do when your faith slipped?” I replied that I simply talked with God and he always answered. She thanked me and went on her way. A couple of weeks later, I saw her and asked her how things were going with her. She replied, “My life is good. Thank you so much for your help.”
I have no idea how that girl knew that I am a Christian. Thank God for the opportunity to teach her more about prayer!
A teacher stopped me in the hall on the same day as the young girl’s request for the help. The teacher pleaded, “Would you please stop by my classroom and pray with me at the end of the school day. I have a burdened heart and I need your help.” We prayed together and God heard our prayers. I have no idea how the teacher learned that I am a Christian.
The twenty-seven percent and more who do not pray because they do not have a religion must learn from us. Somehow we must walk with Christ and let them see him as we interact daily. If not us, from whom will they learn?
11:2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom 11:3 Give us each day our daily bread. 11:4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial."
AMEN