Here is Jesus with his disciples, they ask of him, ‘teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ Jesus replies, when you pray say . . .‘ and he gives what history has named The Lord’s Prayer.
In Luke’s book Jesus goes on teaching about prayer: he tells the story of a rude neighbor who comes banging on his friend’s door at 2am going on about how he needs some bread because another rude friend came and wanted to crash at his place. The man who had the neighbor at his door was already in bed wearing his boxers catching some Zzz so he could function the next day; being rightly annoyed he says, ‘hey, I’m sleeping, you schlub; go away, I’m not getting up for your friend who doesn’t know how to plan ahead of time!’ But the man at the door persists: ‘Hey man, I need some bread!’ ‘Get lost you turtle-neck wearer!’ ‘Come on! I need some bread for this guy!’
Jesus goes on to tell his disciples that the man who was sleeping eventually gets up, gets bread, and gives it to his annoying neighbor NOT because they were friends but because the guy was, impudent.
I had no clue what impudent meant so I looked it up: essentially it is not being respectful by following what is the norm based on society or tradition. So the guy is a little unorthodoxed in his approach but he gets his bread. So what is Jesus trying to convey to his guys who are following him? It seems that Jesus is saying, ‘God is your Father and He loves you and nothing is too hard for Him. There may be some traditions and rules about how you should approach Him, but remember to approach Him; you needn’t go to a temple or wear certain clothes or say specific things, but ask HIM!’ This is along the same lines as the writer of Hebrews who says we can go confidently to the ‘throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.’
The Creator of all things, while wild and subservient to no one, is our Father who loves us. When we pray we are banging on His door, we are calling on Him, we are, in a sense, becoming a welcome nuisance to Him. No liturgy, no heartless quotes, no muttering of the same phrase over and over will help, only coming to God because of what Jesus has done will do; because Jesus gave us a voice with God. God does not care for fancy phrases and perfect theology; He wants those broken enough to know they are in need of Him. You’re never too sinful; you’re never too messed up; you don’t need to get things right before going to God; you dont need to have some feeling or sign and you’re never going TO BE good enough to go to God: Jesus fills that place for us.
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