Invocation 2

The main body of the prayer of invocation, I see as the petition "Hear us in the name of your Son". The relationship between Father and Son is the basis of the Christian approach to God...Christian worship has its logic in the doctrine of the Trinity. It is profoundly trinitarian. Our worship is part of the relationship between the persons of the Trinity. It is part of what has sometimes been called the inner trinitarian conversation. It is part of the homage of the Son to the Father. For this reason, therefore, we worship in the name of the Son. The relationship goes in both directions. Our prayer is part of the outpourng of the love of the Father to the Son. It is in Christ that we share in the fellowship of the house of the Father, that we sit at His table and are fed by His bread and share his cup. Our worship participates in the love of the Father to the Son and in the love of the Son for the Father. When we proclaim the gospel in Christ's name, baptise, and teach what He has commanded in His name, this is part of the obedience of the Son to the Father. But it is also part of the Father's glorification of the Son. In the ministry of preaching and teaching that we perform in Christ's name, Christ is glorified. Human hearts are changed and disciples are made of all nations - and thus the Father is setting all things under the feet of the Son, so that at last Christ is Lord of all. The Invocation therefore, has as one of its cardinal concerns this relationship between the Father and Son.

Old, p.16