About the Mass Series Vol 2: Communion Rite Part 2 Our Father

 

ABOUT THE MASS SERIES VOL 2.

COMMUNION RITE PART 2: OUR FATHER

About the Mass series Vol 2

The Communion Rite begins with the ‘Our Father’ (the Lord’s Prayer). This prayer praises God, asks for our ‘daily bread’ and forgiveness of our sins, and reminds us that we need to be united and at peace with our neighbour through forgiving those ‘who trespass against us’.  In asking for our ‘daily bread’ we recognise that it is God who feeds us with himself –Christ- under the form of Bread, as well as providing for all our daily needs.  Because the Our Father leads into the Deliverance Prayer there is no Amen at this point.

Our body posture is important here. We as a congregation are no longer kneeling as we were in the Eucharistic Prayer, but are standing. We are standing to praise God, standing to acknowledge our daily needs, standing to ask forgiveness, standing in unity with our neighbour.  In this posture, Jesus invites us to be whole just like he invited many of those who were healed by him. He invites us to stand- not to be afraid and to be whole.  We are adopted sons and daughters of God and so call Him Father. We are co-heirs with Christ. Somehow in this posture, we claim that for ourselves once again.

Of course, we know the prayer by heart and say it often. It is perhaps the best-known prayer in the world, and it is precious because it comes to us from Jesus himself.  It is timely to remind ourselves the context that Jesus gave this prayer: Luke records: ‘Lord, teach us to pray like John taught his disciples’. (Lk 11:1)

 

Perhaps on our spiritual journey, our prayer life becomes dry, or perhaps we have short times or even extended periods when we feel overwhelmed with our life.

Perhaps, like the disciples, we too can have a fresh start with the words ‘Lord, teach us to pray’.

 There are many commentaries written by the saints and other theologians on The Our Father.  I am currently reading ‘Our Father’ by Fr Ken Barker MGL.  I highly recommend it if you are looking for a fresh approach and a deeper awareness for the Lord’s prayer and how it may be used in our lives.