Submitted by Jan on Mon, 22/07/2013 – 23:56
Year C (2012-2013)
Bible Book: Luke / Lukas
Chapter: 11
Verse: 1 – 13
Introduction
The Lord’s Prayer is one of the most well-known and commonly used prayers in the World. It is the first prayer a Christian child learns and forms part of the foundation of how we understand God. However, most of us miss the powerful truths it relates about who God is and how it was understood by the original audience. Today’s Gospel offers Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer and some comments by Jesus arising from issues that are surfaced by the prayer.
Telling the Story
1.A disciple of Jesus comes to Jesus after he has been praying to request Jesus to teach them how to pray
a) I wonder what prompted this disciple to make this request
b) Was it because he saw Jesus pray?
c) Was it perhaps experiences of feeling unheard by God when he prayed?
d) Was it an awareness of his blindness to his true needs?
e) Was it feelings of inadequacy of the words he has been using?
f) Whatever his reason have might been, the disciple shows a longing for a meaningful way of connecting with God
2.Jesus asks no question but begins to teach the disciple
a) Perhaps Jesus could see this hunger for meaningful connection with God
b) Perhaps Jesus knew the struggles and underlying issues that created this longing to be heard by God
3. Jesus recites a Prayer that allows the disciple to pour out his heart to God about both his physical and spiritual needs
a) The prayer depicts God as a Caring Provider who forgives and guides.
b) God is as concerned about hunger as God is concerned about forgiveness
c) Perhaps Jesus knows that our physical needs are as important as our spirituality
d) Perhaps Jesus also knows that beneath many spiritual struggles sits very practical and physical needs
4. Jesus then raises certain issues and questions surfacing from the prayer and deals with them through an illustrations
a) How willing are friends to help when helping inconveniences them? A friend knock while the other is already asleep
b) Asking for and seeking help comes with the risk of being rejected. Will he open or will he say go away I’m sleeping?
c) Should we allow the fear of being rejected to stop us from seeking help?
d) Persistence alone can go a long way in ensuring that we get the help and assistance we need
Characters to identify with
1. The friend knocking at the door:
a. In need of help,
b. Afraid of rejection but
c. Persistent in asking, seeking and knocking.
2. The friend inside the house:
a. In a position to help though that would inconvenience him
b. Has an opportunity to respond to a need and not just help to because he wants to feel good or to be seen
To ponder
Do I allow the fear of being rejected to paralyze me and stop me from seeking help?
Am I willing to offer assistance beyond what is convenient?
Written by: Rev’d. Lundi Joko. Rector: Parish of Christ the Redeemer: Westridge, Mitchell’s Plain Diocese of False Bay: Anglican Church of Southern Africa. Trained Facilitator of Churches Channels of Hope
Author: Joko L (Rev)
Language: English