Sunday, July 25, 2010
Luke 11:1-13
For years, Israel was taught to view God as the “All Holy,” “The Omnipotent,” “The One and Only” whose name was so sacred that out of respect and reverence, God’s name was never completely written. YAHWEH was written as YAH… as in Allelu-jah. Even when our own Rabbi in Lewiston/Auburn writes in our newspapers, he refers to God as G— out of respect and reverence for His name.
Now try to imagine the shock value of Jesus’ words when He was asked: “Teach us how to pray!” He answered: “When you pray say: Father (Abba), hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us when we need it.” Calling God “Abba” was so radical and close to outrageous. How can Jesus be so familiar and so intimate with God? How can He refer to the Almighty as Abba? Who is this guy?
God as Abba was completely opposite of what Israel had been taught for centuries. And to make sure that those who heard him got it straight, Jesus adds: “What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?” (Luke 11:1-13) Jesus goes on to explain what human fathers do and how they relate to their children.
I am a father myself and when my son and daughter were little, there was no joy more intense than to go for a ride and go for custard. The kids got excited and anticipated their treat. They were even happier to know that the dog would get a custard too. As a father, seeing my kids happy made me happy too.
We might be religious and faithful churchgoers, but do we ever think of God as being excited and happy about us? We muster serious energy to face difficult challenges…to remain virtuous and good. But when God is presented as our Abba, then this changes all our inner relationships. Abba is clearly on our side. He roots for us! He rejoices in having us as his children. If we belong to our Abba, then He belongs to us. We are not called to be shy with our Abba. Jesus goes on to say: “Ask and you will receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. If then, you, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Abba in heaven give you the gifts you ask for?” The referral to God as Abba was so radical, it is no wonder that many of Jesus’ contemporaries could not swallow his beliefs.
Children who are loved and cared for by their moms and dads have no problem believing that God is our Abba. It is the most natural feeling in the world. The Kingdom of God always belongs to little children.
When will we get it?
We must love God the way children do, with total abandon and total trust…complete playfulness and spontaneity. When kids love someone a lot, they stretch out their arms as wide as they can and say: “I love you this much — as much as the whole world!”
Wait until you’re alone and make sure that no one sees you, then extend your arms as wide as you can and say to God – Abba “I love you as much as the whole world!” You’ll never want to say it differently…ever!
P.S. I’ve been working in this hospital for 33 years as a chaplain. When patients face difficult times, I like to remind them that Jesus taught us just one prayer. He stuck to that one prayer because He couldn’t improve on “Our Abba”. I think of it often…when it is my turn to face God as I die, what a comfort to anticipate God as Abba! My Abba will receive me with open arms, forgive what needs to be forgiven and lead me to His Kingdom where I will be received as Abba’s child or probably as Abba’s spoiled child. We’re all going to giggle and laugh for eternity.
Kenn Rancourt
Pastoral Care
