Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 15:19 – 16:22; Matthew 13:44-58
“Thy kingdom come.” The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also. (Luther’s Small Chatechism)
If God already knows what we need before we ask Him, why bother praying? Here is the best answer I have found: “God also requires that you lament and plead such necessities and wants, not because He does not know them, but that you may kindle your heart to stronger and greater desires, and make wide and open your cloak to receive much.” (Large Catechism). Think about that. The Lord teaches us to pray because He wants to teach us what good He has in store for us. What gifts and blessings He's got coming our way. Back the dump truck up Lord and unload all of your good stuff on us!
Jesus teaches us to pray the Lord's Prayer, those particular words, because He is teaching us what gifts and blessings the Lord has in store for us. He gives us Himself and His Word and the forgiveness of sins and the daily needs of our bodies and lives. He's our heavenly Father who just can't help pouring out good things upon us, most of all the blessings He gives in Jesus.
Jesus, after all, is the answer to the prayer, “Thy kingdom come.” And come it does in Christ's holy church. Thy kingdom come: Jesus crowned with thorns, saving sinners on the cross. Thy kingdom come: Water and word marking you with the Lord's Name. Thy kingdom come: A declaration of “not guilty,” forgiveness given by the Lord's minister. Thy kingdom come: Right into your mouth as you feast upon the Bread of Life in the Lord's holy Supper.
The Catechism reminds us that we pray because we have God's command and promise. It's not optional. Yet to rightly understand prayer is to recognize that in the Lord's Prayer, the Lord is promising to us the very gifts we ask of Him. He knows what He intends to give us in Jesus. He invites us to pray so that we too will learn and know what wonderful and saving gifts are ours in Jesus Christ.