Praying the "Our Father" with Jesus
Overview of the Presentation
In this听presentation听Michael Simone, S.J.听helps us view the Lord鈥檚 Prayer through Jesus鈥檚 eyes.听 This is a personal project that Fr. Simone pursues in addition to his academic research and writing. 听Simone reminds us that the library of books we call the Hebrew Bible or the "Old Testament" was the only Bible Jesus knew.听 As Simone explores selected phrases or segments from the 鈥淥ur Father,鈥� he points us to passages and words that may have captivated the mind of Jesus when Jesus uttered that prayer.听 Simone鈥檚 reflections demonstrate to the modern Christian believer just how powerful a source of revelation the Hebrew Bible continues to be.听
Michael Simone, S.J., STM assistant professor of Old Testament
Using this Resource
This resource is a guide to using an Encore presentation from the School of Theology and Ministry as a conversation starter with members of a faith community.听 Each part of the presentation may be used separately, in combination with each other, or in a sequence over a period of time.听 "Praying the Our Father with Jesus" has broad application for a faith community.听 It could serve as a standalone adult ed series during Advent or Lent, or could augment the activities of existing parish groups, such as prayer groups or Scripture study groups.听 Segments could be used by for periodic catechist meetings or Catholic school faculty meetings, and it would also be appropriate for high school religion students studying the life of Jesus or the New Testament.
翱惫别谤惫颈别飞:听听
First, Simone introduces us to his interest in the Lord鈥檚 Prayer, which he sums up in this way: 鈥�. . . how does Jesus take these words that he鈥檚 hearing, maybe that he鈥檚 reading, and incorporate them in his own sense of mission, his own sense of prayer?听 How does he find words to describe his own desires, his own hopes, his own fears, using the words that he inherits from the Hebrew Bible?鈥欌�� 听Simone continues by exploring how the prayer begins: 鈥淥ur Father.鈥澨� He explains the characteristics that Jesus captures in his use of 鈥渇ather.鈥澨� He also identifies some other divine images described in the Hebrew Bible that Jesus did not draw upon.听
Background Study:
Compare the 鈥淥ur Father鈥� in Luke and in Matthew. Use the drop-down menu on听听to choose the translation of the Bible you wish to view:
Questions for Reflection or Discussion:
1.听听听听听听 What assumptions did you make about Jesus鈥檚 education before you heard Simone describe literacy skills in Jesus鈥檚 time?听 How might Simone鈥檚 description contribute to understanding why there are two versions of the 鈥淟ord鈥檚 Prayer,鈥� one in Luke and one in Matthew?
2.听听听听听听 What are some characteristics of 鈥渇ather鈥� that Jesus may have called to mind when he began the prayer with 鈥淥ur Father鈥�?听 Which ones speak to you most strongly?
3.听听听听听听 What were some divine images available to Jesus in the Hebrew Bible that Fr. Simone did not draw upon?听 What images of God are important to you?
翱惫别谤惫颈别飞:听听
Simone makes two points in this video segment. First, by praying to the Father who is in heaven, the first-century hearer understood that God is more accessible than they may have imagined. 听Second, the divine name makes God present. 听Even when the name isn鈥檛 used, an action taken in the divine name makes the divine present.
Questions for Reflection or Discussion:
1.听听听听听听 Simone makes the point that for modern Christians, it is not surprising to say that God is in heaven.听 What experiences, prayer, or Scripture passages help you realize that God is accessible to us today?
2.听听听听听听 Describe how you understand the phrase 鈥渉allowed be thy name鈥�?听
翱惫别谤惫颈别飞:听听
Simone prompts us to reflect on the meaning of the Kingdom and daily bread.听 He links kingdom to Ezekiel 34.听 He points out that the understanding of daily bread evolved to become 鈥渞eliance upon pure grace.鈥� 听Finally, based on a vision of the Jubilee year which was a familiar idea in Israelite society, Simone builds a case for the use of 鈥渄ebt鈥� rather than 鈥渢respass鈥� or 鈥渟in.鈥澨�
Questions for Reflection or Discussion:
1.听听听听How do you understand the phrase 鈥済ive us this day our daily bread?鈥澨� 听How does Simone鈥檚 explanation support, enhance, or change your understanding?
2.听听听听What difference does it make to you if you pray 鈥渇orgiver us our trespasses鈥� or 鈥� debts鈥� or 鈥渟ins鈥�?听 What difference does it make to Simone, based on his understanding of the Hebrew Bible?听听
Overview:
Simone focuses on an understanding of the word 鈥渢emptation鈥� as 鈥渢est.鈥澨� He inquires whether God tests or the devil tests.听 He speaks of the great tests of Abraham, Job, and the Israelites in the desert.听 In this segment, Simone also provides a short review of the points he has made throughout his entire presentation. 听听He draws our attention to how one can be enriched by knowing the biblical prophets when praying this prayer. 听He ends by asking if this is personal prayer or priestly prayer, i.e. mediated prayer for the whole community. 听This question leads him to comment on the word 鈥渙ur鈥� which begins the Lord鈥檚 Prayer.
Questions for Reflection or Discussion:
1.听听听听What does it mean to you to pray the 鈥淥ur Father鈥� with the word 鈥渢est鈥� rather than 鈥渢emptation?鈥澨� What, from the Hebrew Bible, does Simone think that 鈥渢est鈥� evokes?
2.听听听听What does it mean to you to pray the 鈥淥ur Father鈥� as prayer for the world?
Transcript of the "Reading the Hebrew Bible with Jesus" presentation (opens new window)
.听 Use the drop-down menu to see the comparison in a different translation.
For another voice, read this article by a well-known biblical scholar:听N.T. Wright,
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