Parents will do anything for their children.  This is particularly true if a child is ill or suffering or struggling with life in any way.  And it doesn’t seem to matter how old they are.  For a parent they are always my children.  When you listen to a parent speak of a child who is suffering you can see and hear the suffering on their own face, in their voice and in their bodies.  It is as if the suffering has become their own pain and struggle.  Parenting brings its own unknown and unexpected griefs and anxieties.  Sometimes there is nothing more one can do than to accompany the child, to sit with them, to be with them, to love them.

Of course where it is possible parents seek out help, put themselves on the line, pay for treatment, assist with practical, financial or what ever other aid is needed.  In so many real ways parents give their lives for their children.

In this way parents are the image and likeness of God.  They reveal the heart of God to their children and to the world.  Like the living God there are times when all they can do is whisper softly, ‘I am with you’ or ‘be not afraid’ or ‘have faith, trust’.

The gospel of this coming weekend gives us a series of responses from Jesus to the request of his disciples to teach them to pray.  Similar to the response of a parent Jesus reminds his disciples that God will not abandon anyone who calls out in God’s name.

“You parents—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead?  Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not!  So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” (Luke 11:9-11)

So, we should pray to the living God and bring before God all the needs of our families and the human family.  Sometimes we will just sit in silence and know the presence of God who can still us and calm us.  We can remember that the Son of God too hung on a cross, abandoned and crucified by humanity. Never abandoned by the God of life. Instead he was raised up by the one who breaks through the barriers of death and destruction and raises up all who are bowed down.

In the meantime the gospel also gives us a short prayer to help us on our way.  We can often complicate it.  But in the Gospel of Luke this weekend we get a very concise version.

Father, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.

And do not bring us to the time of trial

By Fr Brendan Reed