“Pray, then, in this way: Our Father ...” (Matthew 6:9) With these words, Jesus invites us into the divine family. Flawed as we are, we are invited into intimacy with God.
For some, this name “Father” is problematic, but gender was not the point when, nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus used the Aramaic name “Abba”, which translates into modern English more accurately as “Daddy.” The point was relationship. A good parent is more than just the biological creator or adopter of a child. A good parent is a teacher and provider, a loving nurturer, and also a voice of authority and comfort.
God as a parent is not a being who we own and have exclusive rights to, nor a being whom we can control. There is no trademark or copyright symbol next to God's name – it is hallowed and not ours to use and abuse as it suits us. The God we pray to when we pray as Jesus taught, is bigger than the United Church of Canada, the Roman Catholic Church, the Baptist Church, the Lutheran Church, the Church of God or any other division we can dream up among Christians. God is bigger than Christianity itself.
Another implication of God as a parent is that God wants to hear our prayers, just like a parent wants their children to ask nicely for what they need.
Jesus says, “Ask and it shall be given.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
Does that mean God will give us everything we want, right at the moment we want it? Would you give your child candy for breakfast? What if they asked for a unicorn? But how about if they asked for bread to eat and share with another hungry person, or companionship when they were lonely?
We pray for God’s kingdom to come, that there may be peace in our world. Does God answer? The Mir Centre for Peace tells us, that in spite of all the evil that still is going on in the world, we are in an unprecedented time of peace. There are fewer acts of violence globally now than there were just fifty years ago.
We pray for forgiveness for the evil we have created. We pray for the strength to forgive others. We pray not to be tempted by evil going forward. This is the path towards God's peace, making this ancient prayer still worth saying again and again.
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9-13)
Robin Pengelly is the pastor of Castlegar United Church.