The person praying (PP): Our Father who art in heaven.
God: Yes?
PP: Please don’t interrupt me. I’m praying.
God: But you called me.
PP: Called you? I didn’t call you! I’m praying. Our Father who art in heaven…
God: You did it again.
PP: Did what?!
God: Called me.
PP: Wait. Is that you, God?
God: Yep!
PP: Oh. Wow. I just never expected to hear your voice. Plus, you sound like a woman and I always envisioned God’s voice as a man’s.
God: Well, Ron. I am the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the End. I am above all time and all genders. Plus, Pastor Kristine couldn’t find a volunteer to be God’s voice so here we are. Anyhooo, let’s get back to your prayer.
PP: Oh Right. Um…Hallowed be thy name….
God: So, what do you mean by “hallowed?” It’s not a word you use every day.
PP: It means…it means…well you know. Good grief. How should I know? It’s just part of the Lord’s prayer. (pause) So what does it mean?
God: It means honored…holy…wonderful.
PP: Oh. That makes sense. Never thought about what hallowed means. So going on…Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…
God: Are you sure about that?
PP: Absolutely. Why not?
God: Remember when Jesus said: “ “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it?” It’s not easy doing my will and it won’t make you popular. But I promise when you do you will receive what you’ve truly been hoping for and then some. That’s my will for all.
PP: Yeah that sounds pretty rough. But I really do believe that your will is what’s best for us. But does it really have to involve carrying a cross?
God. Yes. But know that I’m always here to help you with that. Everything I command you to do you weren’t meant to do alone. I will be your help and strength.
PP: Okay. That sounds less intimidating. Going on… Give us this day our daily bread.
God: Pause. Notice the prayer says “Daily” bread. I will give you what you need for today. Let’s talk about tomorrow another time – such as in the future.
PP: Oh. Bread for today. Okay. Got it. But may I suggest we stretch it out and ask for bread for at least the week? It’d make me feel better about the future.
God. Yeah. No.
PP: (sheepishly) Okay. Sounds good. Going on…Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors…
God: So have you?
PP: Have I done what?
God: Forgiven your debtors? Those who sinned against you. I realize forgiveness is a process, and doesn’t happen overnight, but you’ve been holding a grudge against Dan, your coworker.
PP: Dan? Everyone has a grudge against that guy. He’s arrogant and tries to take credit for other people’s work. It’s unjust!
God: That is totally valid and I hear you. You need to be honest with Dan and figure out how to place proper boundaries between you and him. But what I’m really concerned about is that your anger for him has been all-consuming for you. That can’t feel good.
PP: No, it doesn’t.
God: Let’s keep talking about your anger. Keep praying about it and I’ll help you work through it. While I’m not condoning Dan’s behavior, I will say I know he’s going through a lot right now.
PP: Oh, I didn’t know that. And yes. I really need your help working through my anger.
God: You got it. Now let’s finish this prayer…
PP: For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
God: Do you know what would bring me glory?
PP: No, but I’d really like to know. I’d like to know what it looks like to “love my neighbor, as I love myself.” I know this is only possible when I’m assured of your love for me and others.
God. You just answered the question.
PP: I did?
God: My desire is that you would know how wide, how deep and how high my love is for you and all of humanity. This is why Jesus came to be with you all. His life, death and resurrection demonstrate my infinite love.
PP: Wow. I never thought of it that way. Well, I’m excited to know you are with me as I figure out how to live a life that’s grounded in your love. I know I can’t do this alone. Let’s see what you can make of me, okay?
God: Yes. Let’s see.
Thanks, Ron Mass! I wanted to do this skit to demonstrate how we might be praying incorrectly. As Ron’s character showed sometimes we just go through the motions. It’s something to check off our list right up there like getting an oil change. You know you have to do it, but it’s a pain to find the time. Eventually you squeeze it in to get it over with. I’m guilty of this.
We also tend to fail to recognize the power that is in prayer. It’s no small feat to ask God to not just forgive us, but that we would also forgive our debtors. Those who have wronged and hurt us. Essentially, those who have sinned against us. Prayer is a way for God to help us work through our resulting hurt and sadness, because at the end of the day that’s what we are really feeling and our anger is just a symptom of our true feelings.
In addition, God does not want us to be doormats that others walk over without any regard for our well-being. At the same time, God doesn’t want us to remain in anger or bitterness, because such things can eat us up from the inside out. Prayer is the way we say “yes” to Jesus when he offers to help us through our pain and anger. I think anger is one of the burdens Jesus had in mind when he said “lay down your burdens, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. And you will find rest for your souls.”
When we think of prayer, we think of asking God for what we need. While Jesus wants us to ask for what we need, we don’t actually ask for what it is we truly need. To quote NT Wright: “Prayer brings together love and power; the relation of love that grows up between God and the person who prays, and the flowing of power from God to, and especially through that per person. That is what Paul’s prayer here (in Ephesians 3:14-21) is all about.”
Prayer is necessary for us to grow in love for Jesus. The more we pray, the more rooted and grounded we become in the love Jesus Christ has for us. God’s love is synonymous with God’s power. When we pray, we are rooted not just in God’s love, but in God’s power that not only works in, but more importantly, through, us. God empowers us to better love and serve others. Whether it’s our family, friends, our church, or serving those who are in need in our community and beyond. We can’t be the hands and feet of Jesus without Jesus himself.
It’s also important to note that prayer doesn’t mean the opposite of action, as many think. Though I empathize with those who can’t stand the phrase “Thoughts and prayers,” because it’s become synonymous with not taking action to address certain injustices. But this doesn’t mean we skip over prayer all together. I agree that we need to do more than just pray, but prayer is the first thing we must do.
I heard a story about someone who had the privilege of traveling with Desmond Tutu, the renowned South African Bishop and theologian who worked tirelessly to end apartheid in South Africa. This person was struck by how many times Bishop Tutu would stop to pray. They’d take a tour of an area affected by protests. He would stop at that site and pray. Before any speaking engagement, Bishop Tutu would pray in the car and then again at the door before entering the venue. It struck this person how Bishop Tutu was a great example of someone who never stops praying, but at the same time was always on the go. While Bishop Tutu knew that he had to be rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ before he could do anything else, he was still a man of action, who trusted that God’s power would be at work within and through him.
What would it look like if we prayed like Desmond Tutu? Before we entered the office or wherever it is that our work takes us? Before we walked into our homes after a long and tiring day of work? Before we come together in worship? Before engaging in a hard conversation? What if we prayed about our anger? What would happen is that we would be a people who are rooted and grounded in the love and power of Jesus Christ. People who are better at loving others because we know the power of Christ’s love for us and for others. People becoming more of the people God created us to be. That’s my prayer for you, for me and for all of us.
