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17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
St. Mark, Fallston
July 28, 2019
We Dare to Say
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
“Lord, teach us to pray”
The disciples ask Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray,” and Jesus responds with a fifty-five-word prayer. That’s why we call this the Lord’s Prayer or, after its first words, the Our Father.
Today I want to share a way of (1) understanding this prayer that (2) could very well have an impact on our lives.
Let’s begin by stating something about the prayer’s structure. As Jesus presents it, we see it has three distinct sections.
Ø 1st, there is the address or salutation.
Ø 2nd, there are the “thy” sections of three phrases, each containing the word “thy.”
Ø And 3rd, there are the “us” sections with three phrases, each containing the word “us,” “our,” or “we.”
So let’s look at each of Jesus’ sections more closely and how each might impact our lives.
1. The Salutation
[1] We begin with the address or salutation, “Our Father, who art in heaven.”
To better understand this, notice the words the priest uses to introduce the prayer at Mass each Sunday: they are “We dare to say.”
[2] In our culture today, we don’t find it daring or risky to say “Our Father,” but, it was daring to say those words at the time Jesus taught it.
The Jewish people would never think of addressing God by name much less in a familiar way. It would look as disrespectful and daring as being introduced to Pope Francis and saying, as saying, “Hi, Frank, I have a favor to ask.” The Jews of Jesus’ time saw God as distant and felt it irreverent to even use a name for God.
[3] Yet, Jesus teaching us to call God “Our Father” is a risky step forward and a shift
to seeing God as our loving our parent, and still as beyond us – “who art in heaven.”
The impact this shift has on us is a feeling of closeness and intimacy with God rather than a feeling of distance, dread or fear.
2. “Thy”
[1] That takes us to section two of the prayer – the “Thy” phrases.
We say, “Hallowed be thy name” so first and foremost, we need to praise God. We do that by worshiping God here at Mass or praying Jesus’ prayer to the father.
The impact of this? It keeps a check on our egos and keeps us humble in a good way.
[2] Then, we say,“Thy kingdom come.” Here we’re focusing not on what we want to do or control.
The impact? We are focusing on what God wants to do for us. We are honoring God’s intention and plan for us.
[3] To make this completely clear, we say, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We’re affirming that God’s will is done in heaven because that’s what heaven is.
The impact? We pray that God’s way, God’s will, also permeates all that we do as followers of Jesus. This is the way that God’s kingdom will come, namely by my cooperating in bringing it about.
3. “Our/We/Us”
[1] That takes us to section three of the prayer – the “Us/Our/We” phrases.
In saying, “Give us this day our daily bread” we are making an act of faith or trust in God.
The impact? We are not asking God for long-term needs. We are simply placing our trust in God for what we need to get through this day and live it well.
[2] Next, we say,“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Nine times in this prayer we use the words “our,” “us,” or “we.” Jesus never tells us to use the words “I,” “me,” or “mine.”
The impact? Because it is always in the plural, we include all God’s people — and that really means all people — in our forgiveness. No exceptions!
So, in this phrase about forgiving us, as we in turn forgive, Jesus is reminding us that we are all human and imperfect. Remembering this helps us to be forgiving.
[3] Finally, we say, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Pope Francis has talked about the translation of these words.
He says that instead of “Lead us not into temptation,” the more precise meaning is, “Do not let us fall into temptation.” He says that God, our loving Father, would never lead us into temptation.
The impact? Our shadow side, our unbridled passions may lead us into temptation, not God and we are committing ourselves to taking responsibility to remain vigilant in time of temptation.
Conclusion
So, we dare to address God as “Our Father” – a loving parent who is in heaven.
And then we focus on God – the three “thy” phrases, and then on ourselves in relation to God – the three “our/us/we” phrases.
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