Editorial May 30, 1942 Issue

"When ye pray, say, Our"

Peter V. Ross

His biographers bear witness to the fact that Jesus prayed, even lingering all night on one occasion in communion with the Supreme Being. These sessions of prayer were far from selfish, for in the morning he mingled with the people to share with them the exhilarating power he had gathered in those enriching silent hours. His constant admonitions to fear not, even to rejoice, were based on his ability to think faultlessly, to see penetratively, and hence to differentiate between the deceptions of materiality and the unseen permanencies of Spirit. He spoke "a parable unto them ... that men ought always to pray, and not to faint."

Jesus had no bank account, no reserve of capital, no political or worldly influence. Yet no one was ever richer, more affluent, more independent. He could pay his taxes from the fish's mouth; he could feed the hungry crowd from the abundance of his compassionate understanding. His prayers and their answers measured his oneness with the Eternal. His faith in God was the basis of his faith in himself as the Son of God. Observing the works he accomplished as a direct result of prayer, the disciples yearned for access to the same spiritual source. No wonder they sought him out and asked, "Lord, teach us to pray."

In response he gave them the prayer now known as the Lord's Prayer, which is used in every Christian Science church, at each service. Here is definite proof of his endeavor to leave with his followers a co-operative and reciprocal mission. He brought to light the individual and enduring nature of man, as well as the impartial and universal nature of Deity. How significant it was for him to instruct, in recognition of man's sonship with God, "When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven"! The pronoun is plural all the way, "our daily bread ... our debts ... our debtors."

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