“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name’”
Matthew 6:9aAt that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you are pleased to do.”
“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Matthew 11: 25-26Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
John 17:1b-3“All I have is yours and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.” John: 17: 10-11
The Aramaic “street language” word that Jesus used to start this prayer is “Abba” which describes an intimate relationship with his father. Sometimes “abba” has been referred to as “daddy” because of the affectionate intimacy it implies. There are varying opinions as to whether or not ”Daddy” is a correct use of the word.
The word, “Father” can have a difficult association for some of us. Memories of a not-so-great relationship with our own father intrude when we are told to think of and pray to God as Father.
My father had to live apart from my sister and I because of a debilitating physical disease that required isolation and prevented the contact he so wanted with us. He died when I was four years old. Although I never really got to know him except from what other people told me about him, I have this one treasured memory of him that makes me love the word “Father.”
The word that grabs me is “Our”. Jesus shares his Father with us. Perhaps that is the meaning of the intimate, “Abba,”! Jesus isn’t clutching his Father to himself, but wants us to learn to know the love of his Father and he wants us to learn to love his Father with him. We are invited to be included in God’s family with Jesus.
What do you think about and how do you feel when you hear, “Our Father,”? Neither Jesus nor his Father condemn us for our struggles. We can come honestly and ask for help in changing our perspective and learning to receive their love. Go back through the above scriptures. Ask Jesus to help you see and relate to his Father as he does.
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