Monday, 24 September 2018

Our Father

A prayer that we and many people learn as children is the Our Father, though the depth of wisdom and understanding we now have, in relation to this prayer, were only received through great personal suffering and personal insight.
We have only understood the beauty, the power and the protection of this prayer as adults, through revelation, praying it and entering deeply upon a path of suffering with trust and confidence in the truth of the Word of God and as such we want to more fully share this learning, for it is deep and rich and overarching in its breadth.
So as we come to pray this prayer, let us open our hearts to the love and the truth and the beauty therein.
Let us not say these words in dullness, out of habit and routine.
Let us enter fully with faith and more than this, with knowledge that these words truly will protect us and bring us safe passage, through any circumstance, for they are a promise of God with us and the life yet to come.
Amen

Our Father
Who art in heaven
Hallow be thy name,
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done on earth
As it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those
Who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
Amen
Let us explore each phrase in more depth.
Our Father
Jesus is the son of God and it is through him, who is both human and divine, that we come to find that God is our father, because Jesus shares him with us and brings us to him in a new way.
When Jesus says the words “Our Father”, he unites us in the mystery of his son-ship with him, he includes us and acknowledges us as children of God and so it is as children of God that we can dare to approach God and whisper the words “Our Father” with new meaning and hope.
He brings us to a new relationship that touches our hearts and inspires us with confidence for what loving father does not know his child?
Perhaps we need to take time to explore this relationship for our heavenly father is none other than the God of love and mercy, the all-powerful living God who created heaven and earth. It may be that a lifetime’s journey is needed to learn to trust and grow in confidence in the nurturing love of all goodness. Saying Our Father is the first step….

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Meaningless?