Thoughts from St. Andrew's Episcopal Church • Birmingham, AL

Tuesday, March 03, 2020

Old Testament: Isaiah 55:6–11

Gospel: Matthew 6:7–15

Psalm 34:15–22

“Jesus said, ‘When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Pray then in this way:

Our  Father in heaven

Hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done, 

on earth as it is in heaven…’” from Matthew 6

The Lord’s Prayer as we have come to call this scripture: I have fond memories as a child listening to this as a song. It was a big deal in the 1970s, and it was beautiful. I knew how to recite it from an early age, but neither of these things helped me really think about the prayer, nor use it in my life.

When I was 14, I remember my Mother receiving a phone call from my Grandmother.  She told my Mother she thought our Grandfather had died while we had all been at church earlier that evening. My parents left the house quickly, leaving me and my brother home alone with what we had heard. We loved our Grandfather, and we were sad, and we were afraid. I called my other Grandparents (whom were very close friends with my “other”) Grandparents. They immediately came and took us to the home where my family was gathering. My Grandmother was crying, but what I distinctly remember was she was pacing around the house looking for phone numbers while reciting this prayer and a verse from Psalm 23 very quietly. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”   

So 41 years later, that memory lives on as if it happened a few months ago. However, when I came to the Episcopal Church, and began reciting this prayer every week, I learned yet again how powerful this scripture can be. Then in EfM, we had to write our own Lord’s Prayer.  That was actually very hard. Who was I to mess with Jesus prayer?

Now, I am able to put all of these experiences together, and rarely do I feel closer to God, or more humble as when I kneel during the mass and hear all of us praying this prayer together.  I use it in my studies at home, when I am afraid, or feeling alone, and it immediately brings me back to feelings of comfort, and at the very least, not alone.

Thank you God for hearing us when we pray.

Angela Williamson