Our Father

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.

The familiar words roll off our tongues; but they are words of great significance. When we pray “Our Father” we are indicating our allegiance to living within God’s rule, God’s regime, God’s pattern of family organisation.

It is “patriarchal” in the sense that it is modelled on the traditional Jewish family structure where the patriarch provided the guidance and oversight for an extended family group.

But for us, it cannot be patriarchal in the sense that it sets up hierarchies where men have authority over everyone else; or where power is concentrated in the hands of unquestioned authority figures.

God’s rule is one of justice, peace and the integrity of creation. God’s nature is love. And God’s hope and call is for the whole creation to be in relationship with their Creator, and thereby with each other.

The imagery of God as Father places heavy responsibility on human fathers. The ultimate picture of God sets an impossible standard for ordinary, human beings. And that sometimes is not very helpful either. But God’s call to live and work within God’s rule is a call to everyone, not just fathers.

On this Father’s Day, we remember that human fathers are just that--human: that they love and care; worry and get angry and frustrated; get it right and get it wrong. And that together, as the people of God, we are travelling with each other, learning and encouraging one another to live and work within God’s family where everyone is important and all are called to authentic relationship with one another.

We also remember that we are called to acknowledge the God who provides guidance and oversight, love and care, longing for relationship with the whole creation; and who, through Jesus, we receive our inheritance as children of God.