THE OLD LADY AND ANA-Matthew 6:5-15 (the Perfect Prayer)

Editor’s Note: This is the thirteenth in a series of short stories dealing with my personal interpretation of selected verses from the Holy Bible offered under the title, “The Old Lady and Ana”.

13 THE OLD LADY AND ANA Matthew 6: 5-15 (THE PERFECT PRAYER) Little Ana was perplexed as she sought out her grand mother after returning from her day at school. She could not understand why her teacher, Miss Linda, said that we should always pray the Lord’s Prayer as often as possible even if we don’t use any other prayer. Sliding next to her grand mother on the couch, Ana turned to her and earnestly asked:

“Gramma, is the Lord’s Prayer your favorite prayer?”

The old lady smiled knowingly and as she picked up her trusted bible. She recalled an incident many years ago when as a child not much older than Ana, she addressed a similar question to her aunt, Sister Mary, a nun who was visiting the family at the time. She vividly recalled asking her aunt what was her favorite prayer and her reply was that she always chooses the one prayer that Jesus himself taught us. Sister Mary then proceeded to explain the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer and even referred several times to the bible for confirmation. ...And now after so many years have passed, she has been given the opportunity to pass on this information to a new generation. She turned to Ana and in a voice overflowing with confidence answered that her teacher was absolutely correct in stating that this was indeed the prayer given to us by Jesus when he taught us how to pray. Opening the bible to Matthew 6: 5-15, she looked at Ana then began to read these holy words:

"And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites.

For they love to pray standing in the synagogues

and on the corners of the streets,

that they may be seen by men.

Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

But you, when you pray, go into your room,

and when you have shut your door,

pray to your Father who is in the secret place;

and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.

For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them.

For your Father knows the things you have need of before you.

The old lady waited for a moment, then holding Ana's hands, she said:

“You see Ana, even before he gave us the prayer, he took time to teach us how and why we should pray to God, and also what we should not do. You notice he stressed that your prayer should be a private encounter between you and your Father in Heaven. He cautioned against being like the public hypocrite who wants to show-off, and the insincere manipulator, who hopes to gain notice by repeating the words over and over without meaning it. Remember also, since God knows all things, he knows what is in your heart, so it is not what you say that matters as much as how you do so”.Ana sat upright, taking in every word her grand mother said and apart from an occasional nod, said nothing. She was beginning to realize that praying is really a conversation with God, a vital way we are given to keep in touch. Also that we must be sure that we do it right so that God will listen to us".

After a short while had passed, the old lady looked at Ana and asked her if she would like to hear the words Jesus had taught us to say. Ana nodded expectantly:

In this manner, therefore, pray:

“Our Father in heaven,Hallowed be your name,your kingdom come.

Your will be done,On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day, our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For yours is the kingdom and the power,

and the glory forever. Amen.

The old lady closed her eyes and continued to pray silently. She was thanking God for giving her the opportunity to pass on a teaching which she herself had received from her aunt, so many years ago, and hoped that she will be as successful with Ana, as Sister Mary was with her. She then turned to Ana and said:

“This prayer is often called “The Perfect Prayer”. Every line and every word has a meaning and a purpose that has to be understood, otherwise it will become something you just recite without feeling.

The prayer is also unique because it allows you to expand it in relation to your special needs and to really make it personal, between you and the Almighty.

-Notice it begins with a recognition and acknowledgement of God’s authority over all the domains in heaven and on earth. God is the creator and master of all!

-It then deals with asking God to fulfill all the daily needs of our physical and spiritual life,recognizing that God alone has the power to do so. He used the "daily bread" to refer to your whole life and so when you pray you may include anything that affects your life.

-It goes on to deal with a plea for forgiveness for all the wrong things we have done toothers, while at the same time acknowledging that we need God’s help to forgive those people who have wronged us. Without this, we are destined to a life of misery and will never find happiness.

-It then deals with the issue of sinning. Recognizing our own weaknesses, we asks God to help us to avoid falling to temptation, as well as to help us to recover when we fall into sin, for without his help we are doomed to failure.

-It ends by acknowledging as we should all proudly do, over and over, that God is the power and glory forever, and we must never be afraid to proclaim this”.

The old lady paused, took a deep breath, and then hugging her grand daughter with such a loving intensity and deep sense of gratitude as only a grand mother can feel, exclaimed for all to hear:

……. AMEN!