How was yesterday’s time with God, great, I hope. I woke up with the chorus, “Family of God” on my mind and recalled that this season of prayer actually began with the reflection on the disciples request for Jesus to teach them how to pray. And In both versions of the prayer, Jesus refers to God as Father.
Here’s today’s nougat
And he (Jesus) said to them,
When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.” Luke 11.2
I’ve read this before, and it strikes me that God’s celestial location is omitted, leaving the focal point our relationship with God.
What does it mean for the Divine Other (Spiritually set apart from the norm) to claim you as child? Let’s depart from the arguments about God’s gender; and for those of us whose father provided a negative portrayal of love and parenting; I’m sorry. But let’s let go of that also.
Let’s speak genetics and patriarchy for a bit.
Under the socio-religious political order of the times; inheritance came from the father. Whether through adoption or genetics, it was about the father. Thus, if a man claimed someone as his child, then the respect and traits accorded the father was passed on to the child (at least until the child reached majority and established his own identity). And, from a literal perspective, the genetic DNA of the father was expected to be present in the child.
The implications for you and I.
1. God has chosen us. This family which carries God’s name may be a bit dysfunctional (with the various attitudes we have to each other and the love/hate we share so publicly), but We’re all connected by God’s love for us.
Yes, you heard me correctly. Our connection is not doctrinal or any of these issues we make publicly about who’s stupid because the faith it’s expressed differently; we are connected because God loves us. Warts/beauty spots and all.
So how does that impact our approach to God when we pray?
I can’t speak for you, but it alters how I even think of God. God loves me and chooses to name me a child. (Goosebumps!!!) I so feel the love. I don’t worry about rejection, because God chose me first. Awesomeness!!!
Brawta… Here’s a little something extra to remind us
