“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6b
I remember sitting in a Worship class in seminary. The class discussed the development of worship from the early church to the present. The professor had us discover the meaning of the architecture of sanctuaries. We discovered what the placement and design of the narthex, nave, and chancel area signified in our worship. For example, the item that was place central or forefront in the chancel area declared what was most important; such as if it was the pulpit, then preaching the Word was most important, if it was the Communion table or altar, then the sacrament of Holy Communion was most important, etc.
However, we also learned the importance of styles of worship. We United Methodists participate in what is known as a liturgical church. Liturgy means work of the people and in a United Methodist Church, we believe the emphasis is in the work of the people, their participation in worship; such as singing of hymns and spiritual songs, reading of acts of worship during Holy Communion, and praying prayers in unison.
When the professor led our discussion concerning the unison prayers, I balked in my mind saying, “I don’t know why we say the Lord’s Prayer in church each and every Sunday in worship. When you say it so much, you lose its meaning and power.”
I cannot recall if I posed that very question or some fellow seminarian did for others and me that day. I do remember the professor’s response that changed my heart and mindset concerning reciting the Lord’s Prayer in each service. Paraphrasing Dr. Faille he stated, “The reason we are to recite the Lord’s Prayer aloud and in unison is that there are always people in our pews who cannot say the Lord’s Prayer themselves. If we take seriously our mission as a liturgical church to reach out, then we recite the prayer on behalf of the one who does not know the prayer or the one, due to life situations, is unable to recite the prayer at that moment in life.”
Wow! What a transformation of my own heart and mind! It is a pleasure and honor to know that when I recite the Lord’s Prayer each Sunday with the people, that I am saying it for the child, youth, or a struggling mother, dad, or grandparent who is unable to pray. Furthermore, oh how wonderful it has been when the people said the prayer on behalf of me in my times of struggle, turmoil, or loneliness. In either case, the persons who pray the prayer, enter into their room, close the door, and pray to the Father on behalf of another. Therefore, our prayer is to the Father, in the name of Christ, is not so much for ourselves but rather on behalf of the people.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for teaching us to pray. May we enter into our closet now, close the door, and pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever.
Amen.Grace and peace,
Pastor Jack
2 comments:
As we all pray the Lord's Prayer together I imagine God's face and I can see a tear of joy roll softly down His face. He waits in earnest anticipation for those prayers and to answer them through us and for us. Let us all remember to pray unceasingly and in anticipation of them to be answered, as God sees fit for the good of all.
I say this prayer each day, with purpose, to connect with the Holy Father in a new and meaningful way, pausing at the end of each phrase to "be still and listen".
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