Wednesday 11 October 2023

Today is Wednesday 11 October, in the 27th week of Ordinary time.

The Cape Town Camerata sings, ‘Onse Vader’, a setting of the Lord’s Prayer.

Ons Vader wat woon
In die hemel
Geheilig sy
U naam
Laat U ryk kom
U wil geskied
Soos in die hemel
So ook op die aarde
Gee ons vandag ons dag se brood
En vergewe al ons skulde
Net soos ons vergewe
Dié wat teen ons sondig
Laat kom ons
Nie in die versoeking, maar verlos ons van die bose
Want U is die ryk
En die sterkte
En die Here
Vir ewig en ewig
Amen




Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.


Luke 11:1-4

He 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.’ He said to them, ‘When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.’

Today in our reading Luke opens a window for us: we see Jesus at prayer. Often, he withdraws and goes to a quiet place, alone. The disciples ask ‘Lord, teach us to pray’. ‘When you pray say: Father…’ as you settle into prayer, imagine Abba Father running to greet you… the Father, who looks upon you with love. Know that you are in the presence of God, who welcomes you.


‘Your kingdom come…’ Do you sense a challenge in these words, asking that God’s kingdom may come, not your own? Consider how this prayer is answered in your day-to-day life, in the decisions you face and the values you live by?

Abba, the one to whom you pray, the one who greets you with love, asks you to share your needs with God. Speak to Abba now, about your real needs, not wants.


As you listen to the reading again, notice the relationship Jesus had with his disciples, can you imagine yourself with them. What moves in you, as you hear Jesus speak to you?

Finally, ‘And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.’


Jesus came to forgive. You have been forgiven. As this prayer time draws to a close, experience what it is like to be forgiven, held in the embrace of Abba’s forgiveness. Is it possible and indeed joyful to forgive others?

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.