Lord Teach Us To Pray Luke 11:1-13

In response to the request of his followers “Lord, teach us to pray as you do”, Jesus gave them the Our Father or the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:1-13; Matthew 6:5-15).

The origins of The Lord's Prayer are deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition. The Our Father is a central prayer in Christianity and an integral part of Catholic liturgy.

Seven petitions are identified in The Lord's Prayer:

Hallowed be your name

Your Kingdom come

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

Lead us not into temptation

Deliver us from evil

The first three petitions praise God. The remaining four petitions present to God the needs of believers.

Explicit teaching about prayer is part of the Religious Education Curriculum for students attending Catholic schools. Its explicit teaching is complimented by opportunities for staff and students to engage in prayer on a daily basis.

Year 6 students develop their understanding of prayer in the Christian tradition through an exploration of the Our Father, The Examen, and meditative prayer practices including prayer journaling.

Skill development is focused on comparing different texts of the Lord’s Prayer (including Scriptural references and traditional Christian versions) and identifying the use of The Lord’s Prayer in Catholic liturgy (e.g. Communion Rite, Baptism and Anointing of the Sick). Students also investigate the origins of the prayer in the Old Testament and in Jewish prayer and ritual.

Powerful opportunities arise when students are given the opportunity to make connections between their own experiences and the seven petitions. Questions posed for students may include:

What picture of God do I hold in my head? Where/what is “heaven” for me?

How often do I praise or thank God for all the good things that happen to me every day?

Do I recognise that God is my constant companion present in good and bad times?

If I am called to be a steward of God’s creation on earth, how am I helping God’s dream come about?

“Take away our selfishness and greed?” What is one thing I can do in God’s name to help this prayer be answered for every human on the planet?

Are there people in my life whom I have not forgiven or feel I cannot forgive? Has God forgiven them? Where does that leave me?

The Lord’s Prayer calls for a transformation of our hearts and actions, aligning our lives with God's will and with love for others. Through the intercession of Mary MacKillop we pray that God will also give us the strength to share his message of love and forgiveness with others in our community.

‘I do not spend much time in prayer, but God’s presence seems to follow me everywhere and make everything I do or wish to do a prayer.’ Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop

Sharon Beashel - Teacher and Parishioner

Reference: curriculum.bne.catholic.edu.au