I.
We move to this week to reflect on probably a very familiar passage, “The Lord’s Prayer.” Or, should we call it “Jesus’ Model Prayer”? And given most folks familiarity with it is as it comes to us from the King James Version, I will offer here that version. You can visit a site such as http://biblegateway.com to see other translations.

That brings me to maybe the most serious problem with this passage, we are “too” familiar with it. We hear the first phrase or so, and we “know” what comes next. And many folks can quote it from memory so well and so fast they don’t have to think about what they are repeating.

I once saw an interview with Dallas Willard in which when asked about his practices, he said that each morning he “worked through” the Lord’s Prayer and the 23rd Psalm. Notice, he “worked through” this prayer. That suggests to me he took time to thoughtfully consider each phrase, petition, in the prayer and I suspect make the prayer his own.

So as we begin our reflections this week on this prayer, let’s enter the prayer slowly, with intent to own the words as our very own prayer.

II.
Matthew 6:9-15 King James Version (KJV)

After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Amen.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

III.
First, after you prayed this prayer several times as your own prayer, what was hardest for you to pray?

What words does your spirit stumble over the most?

Of course, maybe you have so come to a place that your deepest spirit moves as one with this prayer. If that’s the case, do recall noticing when that happened? What did you notice in yourself when you entered that place of prayer and openness with your Father?

Let’s spend some time there and get back together later.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}