Pray then in this way, Our Father ... (Matthew 6:9)
I have always believed that the most wonderful part of this most wonderful prayer is the first two words, "Our Father."
When Jesus invites us to pray to God notice that he does not say, "O Great Magnificent Creator" or "Most Omnipresent and Omnipotent Ruler" or "Mighty God of All Time and All Things".
Instead, Jesus begins with "Our Father." And even this is a bit misleading because the word "Abba" translated here as "Father," is actually more akin to our words "dad/daddy", a more intimate address that our children use most of the time I would suspect.
So, in effect, Jesus is a offering us an intimate relationship with the great magnificent omnipresent and omnipotent creator, the mighty ruler of all time and all things. We get to call God "dad/daddy" and this portrays the beauty of what Jesus' life and ministry offers this world.
A personal and loving relationship with God, through Christ, is an unbelievable grace. It acknowledges most fully who and whose we are. It invites us into something deeper than any other spiritual offering. It reminds us that we are wonderfully created by a wonderful creator.
This does not suggest that God is a male. It does not suggest that all fathers are the model of God. We are well aware how male imagery of God has not always been used for life-giving purposes. And we are also well aware that all fathers are not loving, supportive, and gracious.
Still, what this language does suggest is that our relationship with God is designed to be personal, intimate, and trusting, like with a good parent. And this very possibility for our lives of faith is something that I believe sets our Christian faith apart from all others.
Father, guide our lives and care for our hearts as only you can. Amen.
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