Praying the Mind of Jesus
- davidwperk
- May 27
- 7 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, May 27, 2025
The week of the sixth Sunday after Easter
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:
11:1He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ 2He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3Give us each day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.’
(You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.)
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 962)
AM Psalm 78:1-39; PM Psalm 78:40-72
Deut. 8:11-20; James 1:16-27; Luke 11:1-13
Today we observe the Feast of Bertha and Ethelbert (See below.)
David's Reflections
E. F. Scott once wrote about the Lord's Prayer: "The value of the prayer consists in this, that it represents the mind of Christ. In all ages (people) men have kept reciting it day by day, in order to remind themselves that they are Christ's servants and must try this day to follow in his steps. The prayer, even when they say it thoughtlessly, is the abiding symbol of their belief in Christ and in his way of life.”*
Finding this quote as a seminarian, made offering the Lord's Prayer even more meaningful. To think that we are praying the mind of Christ, that expressing this prayer expresses what Jesus wants us to pray--that IS prayer. Would we be surprised to learn that Jesus continues to offer this prayer to the Father on our behalf each day?
That older work by Scott joined others in one of my library purges, so it no longer lives on my shelf. But, that quote remains in my database because it opened a window into Jesus’ spiritual experience as reflected in the prayer he gave us.
Luke alone tells us that Jesus gave this prayer to his disciples because they asked him to teach them to pray. (Matthew has a slightly longer version in a different context.) Have you asked Jesus to teach you to pray? I must confess that I did not do so for years.
Surely asking Jesus to teach us to pray will move us closer to how he prays and will transform our practice of prayer. We can hope to become more sensitive to God and to others in prayer. We can hope to listen more deeply in prayer. We can hope to open more of our life and the life of the world up to God in prayer. We can hope to be more aggressive and recklessly believing in prayer. We can hope to be more persistent in prayer. We can hope to trust the Spirit to undergird and enable our praying, even those unutterable groanings we can’t put into words (Rom. 8:26).
Jesus’ experience in the Garden has impacted my view of prayer. His followers slept while he agonized. I do not want to sleep in the garden. Rather, I’ve come to see prayer more as relating to God and being present to God than as asking for things. Prayer has become more like staying awake in the garden. I want to be present within the divine Trinity as God works our salvation and seeks my companionship as Jesus did theirs that night.
Jesus encourages us to pray by reminding us that our Father's nature is to give, to give more lavishly and more consistently and more lovingly than we can imagine. God will give good gifts to us. God will give Godself to us. God will give fresh releases of the Spirit's presence to us. Never will we receive anything as a result of our prayers that will harm us or others.
Jesus, teach me to pray as you taught your first disciples to pray.
* E. F. Scott, The Lord's Prayer: It's Character, Purpose, and Interpretation. (New York: Scribner's, 1951), p. 35.
Collect of the Day, The Sixth Sunday of Easter
O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 225)
Collect of the Weekdays of Easter
Almighty God, you show the light of your truth to those who are in error, to the intent that they may return to the way of righteousness: Grant to those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to it; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Weekday Eucharistic Propers, p. 64)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Bertha and Ethelbert, king and queen of Kent (died ca 612 CE and 24 Feb 616 CE, respectively).
Collect of the Feast of Bertha and Ethelbert
God of Creation, who molded humanity from the fertile earth: Grant that we, following the good examples of Queen Bertha and King Ethelbert, may gladly receive and fruitfully nurture the seed of the Gospel to the bounty of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever.. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen. (BCP, 123)
For the Departed
Almighty God, we remember before you today your faithful servant N.; and we pray that, having opened to him the gates of larger life, you will receive him more and more into your joyful service, that, with all who have faithfully served you in the past, s/he may share in the eternal victory of Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 253)
A Prayer for Light
Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
For Rogation Days: For use on the traditional days or at other times
For fruitful seasons
Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth: We humbly pray that your gracious providence may give and preserve to our use the harvests of the land and of the seas, and may prosper all who labor to gather them, that we, who are constantly receiving good things from your hand, may always give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen. (IBCP, 258-59)
A Collect for Mission
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, 100)
Daily Office Gospel, Luke 11:1-13
11:1He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ 2He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3Give us each day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.’ 5And he said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.” 7And he answers from within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.” 8I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. 9‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’
Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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