Pater Noster: Closed Door

'When the church is no longer teaching the people how to pray, we could almost say it will have lost its reason for existence.'

R Rohr

Doors are vital. They help us with important boundaries. When a fire door is closed they form a barrier to spread and when open they provide a means of escape.

Jesus used a door as metaphor for prayer. We will spend time the following weeks exploring 'The Lords Prayer' or better known in the early traditions as Pater Noster. Jesus saw prayer as movement. Through prayer we enter from one world to another. In order to enter Gods world we need to leave our own.

It is the only escape from the noise pollution inside of us. Prayer helps us to be in the right 'heart space' to properly respond to each of the day’s challenges. It is not something that we do but something that we are. A way of being and relating and connecting with God that lives within us.

 Our journey at in InVia in 2012 will focus on prayer. Hopefully the camps, retreats, learning and self discovery events, communal gatherings, 40 day journey in Lent and Advent will prompt new and joyful glimpses of seeing and experiencing the world through a life of prayer and the eyes of Christ!

Check out the year-calender for info.

Gerda will post it next week.

Notes:

Lectio Divina

Matthew 6:5-15

The Message (MSG)

Pray with Simplicity

 ⁵"And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?

 ⁶"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

 ^7-13"The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

   Our Father in heaven,
   Reveal who you are.
   Set the world right;
   Do what's best— as above, so below.
   Keep us alive with three square meals.
   Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
   Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
   You're in charge!
   You can do anything you want!
   You're ablaze in beauty!
      Yes. Yes. Yes.

 ^14-15"In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part.

Introduction

"Just pay attention, and then patch a few words together, and don't try to make them elaborate. This isn't a contest but the doorway into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak."

"Praying" by Mary Oliver

Why do we need to close the door?

Noise Pollution

Isaiah 41:1

 "Quiet down, far-flung ocean islands. Listen! Sit down and rest, everyone. Recover your strength.

1 Samuel 9:27

And as they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us--and he passed on--but you stand still, first, that I may cause you to hear the word of God.

Practical consideration

Space

Luk 11:1

Matt 26:36

Time

Acts 3:1

Luk1:10

Acts 10:9

How do we know that we are not deluding ourselves, that we are selecting words that best fit our passions, that we are not listening to the voice of our own imagination? Many have quoted the Scriptures and many have heard voices and seen visions in silence, but only a few have found their way to God. Who can be the judge of her own case? Who can determine if his feelings and insights are leading him in the right directing? Our God is greater than our own hearts and minds, and too easily we are tempted to make our heart’s desires and our minds speculations into the Will of God.

Henry Nouwen