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Review: "Praying as Jesus Taught Us - Meditations on the Our Father" by Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini (Sheed & Ward pp.100 $25) The great and charismatic scripture scholar brings new lights and depths to the Our Father, Christ's own prayer, so central to our faith. Martini confesses to a bit of trepidation before the prayer that Jesus taught us because "It surpasses us in every way and in order to understand it, we will have to penetrate deeply into the riches of Jesus's own feelings, into his heart." Our Lord warns us not to "heap up empty phrases .... and many words .... but pray in this way .... OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN." Martini makes three observations. It is a very simple and brief prayer. It is also a bit generic ... it could be recited by followers of every religion, all those who refer themselves to God could repeat the words of the Our Father. Finally, it is a synthetic prayer - it summarises the entire gospel and it is a synthesis of the whole life of Jesus and the key to understanding his entire life. How important it is to explain what 'Father' meant in Jesus' experience. In the Aramaic language of the time, it indicated the familiar address with which young children would call their fathers: 'Abba' Martini adds: 'It is a most tender name, one that evokes a world of affection, trust and surrender.. Christ lives his sonship and teaches us to call God using the same words he uses.' In the liturgy of the Mass we preface the Our Father with the words : 'We dare to say'. Martini adds: 'We would not have dared to pronounce the name Father if Jesus had not given it to us.' 'Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.' In a brief review I cannot discuss Martini's expositions of all the various petitions of the Our Father but forgiveness is most vital. "Forgiveness is an essential blessing, intrinsic to Christianity, indeed it is a blessing without which human life is unthinkable... We all know that to forgive is extremely difficult and it is even more difficult to be forgiven.' And later Martini reminds us of Christ's forgiveness on the cross: "Father, forgive them. While being tortured and crucified, Jesus finds words of forgiveness.." Of all the seven petitions, probably 'Thy will be done', is the most important as God's will is based on infinite love and wisdom. Throughout his life and death, Jesus is constantly thinking about the will of the Father. 'My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work.' And again: 'I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.' And Martini reminds us: 'Most importantly, he repeats it in a sublime way during his agony when, faced with the fear of death, he exclaims: "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want, but what you want.' And again: 'My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will he done'." It is often a very hard prayer in times of trial and spiritual doubt. We often fail to realise that our own will can be so wrong, sometimes so fatefully wrong - but the Father's will for us springs from infinite wisdom and love. We must pray hard for the grace to believe this. The other petitions - Deliver us from evil, Give us bread, Thy Kingdom come - are all discussed with great depth, simplicity and relevance. |