7-27-25                Luke 11::1-13

1 [Jesus] was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”2 So he said to them, “When you pray, say:
 Father, may your name be revered as holy.
  May your kingdom come.
  3 Give us each day our daily bread.
  4 And forgive us our sins,
   for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
  And do not bring us to the time of trial.”
  5 And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything out of friendship, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
  9 “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asked for a fish, would give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asked for an egg, would give a scorpion? 13 If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Search and ask; grace, mercy and peace is there for you.  Amen

Jesus was indeed a teacher and his students, the disciples, ask for instruction about prayer. It may seem that his prayer, or the version that has been revised and amplified by the church, is the penultimate of Jesus’ teaching on this topic. Afterall, we use it at every worship and as a closing for many gatherings. It is true that this is a wonderful and valuable prayer. Yet consider what may actually be taught in the way we utilize this prayer. Often, when we have class with children, we finish it up by praying the Lord’s Prayer. Generally we use it also near the end of a worship service. Then at the conclusion of that prayer we add the “Amen”. It has often then become understood that the Prayer is the wrap up and Amen means ‘the End!’ There is a sigh of relief with that conclusion, signaling that it’s time to move on to a new activity. In worship we then get to receive communion or after the meeting or class session – it is time to go home! AMEN ! Regardless how Amen seems to be a pronouncement of the finale, it really means: “Yes, it shall be so.” It is an exclamation of agreement, a stamp of approval, like you are clicking the spot which means you agree and accept the preceding statements printed on your phone. So, when you conclude the Lord’s Prayer with an Amen, you are stating you will hallow God’s name, you will work for the coming of His kingdom. You will show gratitude for the daily nourishment and gifts you receive. You are indeed asking to be forgiven in order that you may then share that forgiveness with those who need it from you. You are also asking for the strength to avoid temptations and escape evil pitfalls. The next time you pray in this way, you may want to listen closely to all that you are agreeing to do with that AMEN!

In the lesson Jesus shares, he goes on to tell a parable as his way of illustrating the aspect of prayer that he wants to highlight. The example is about this man in need of bread in the middle of the night. An unexpected visitor has arrived and he was not prepared. Unable to provide the necessary and anticipated hospitality, he goes to his buddy and begs for assistance. He knows what he asks is inconvenient but he needs to save face. He knows his friend well and hopes he will understand, even as he acts with disregard for this neighbor. Even though it is a friend who has asked him, we are told it was due to the man’s persistence that the friend gives in and helps. The Greek word that has been translated as persistence is more accurately termed ‘shamelessness’ according to many scholars. The one who is asking is shameless in his request, he has been reduced to begging. Yet the one asked to rouse himself and provide the need, does so bringing a good result to this uncomfortable situation. The man who received the late night guest is saved from humiliation and the one who helped, demonstrates how honorable he is, willing to come to the aid of his friend.

In Genesis, we read a story of another prayer, as Abraham petitions God to be merciful, even when he knows that mercy is not deserved, nor should it be expected. Evidently Sodom and Gomorrah, those cities, had become a hotbed of outrageously sinful behavior and hurtful ways; in describing them we are told: ‘how very grace their sin!’ Evidently reports had been pouring in to God’s complaint department on a regular basis. It seems God had been hearing numerous requests to do something about these people. Yet, Abraham takes it upon himself to repeatedly beg God to save Sodom, for the sake of whatever righteous people remained there. It is his shameless approach in seeking God’s forgiveness and mercy that is upheld as a model for us.  God listens to Abraham and responds to his request. (We will have to save the rest of the story for another time, for mercy is not always well received.)

We are meant to recognize that for us to hallow God’s name, to participate in demonstrating his holiness, we must act. We cannot excuse our inactivity, our lack of petitioning to God, saying that God will do, what God will do regardless of my words. For we are called upon to offer petitions of prayer for the sake of others. The kingdom of God needs to be recognized in this world, in our neighborhoods, and we are the ones who will make it be seen by our requests and actions. It continues to be God who does answer prayer, as God has always done. It is and will be God who gives, when you ask. It is God who directs your search and it is God who will open the door when you knock. These things happen not by saying prescribed words or using a correct formula for prayer. It is your shameless, halting request to respond to a need that is heard. As Jesus taught “the heavenly Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask.” So, it is the Spirit who will enable you to humble yourself to offer the request that is needful and give the words to make it heard. Then you will able to say the “Amen” with confidence. It does mean: “Yes, it shall be so!”