The Lord's Prayer, Phrase by Phrase, Part 4
Our Father in heaven
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts
as we have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
"your kingdom come..." is an invitation for God to rule as King: absolute and unchallengeable, good and loving. But, you may say, isn't God already in charge?
Think about how often you have not lived up to God's standards and you will see the need for this part of the prayer.
This invitation for God to rule begins and ends like this:
Rule in me.
Rule in my thoughts, speech, and actions.
Rule where I am and where I go.
Rule in community life, political life, economic life, and social life.
Rule in my priorities of care and concern for all life.
Finally: Rule in visible, loving power over all creatures and all creation.
How many of these words will you include in your prayers?
How many of these thoughts will you think when you say the Lord's Prayer?
By now, you have noticed much of the prayer Jesus taught puts the focus on God and not on us. God is subject and object. The prayer Jesus taught is about moving and lifting us into God's will and into the worship of God. Have you noticed we haven't been taught to ask for anything for just ourselves---yet?
Next week: "Your will be done...
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts
as we have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
"your kingdom come..." is an invitation for God to rule as King: absolute and unchallengeable, good and loving. But, you may say, isn't God already in charge?
Think about how often you have not lived up to God's standards and you will see the need for this part of the prayer.
This invitation for God to rule begins and ends like this:
Rule in me.
Rule in my thoughts, speech, and actions.
Rule where I am and where I go.
Rule in community life, political life, economic life, and social life.
Rule in my priorities of care and concern for all life.
Finally: Rule in visible, loving power over all creatures and all creation.
How many of these words will you include in your prayers?
How many of these thoughts will you think when you say the Lord's Prayer?
By now, you have noticed much of the prayer Jesus taught puts the focus on God and not on us. God is subject and object. The prayer Jesus taught is about moving and lifting us into God's will and into the worship of God. Have you noticed we haven't been taught to ask for anything for just ourselves---yet?
Next week: "Your will be done...
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