The Our Father is a prayer that is the exemplar of a word that “shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.” This is because it is a prayer that comes directly from the lips of Jesus and is the only indication that comes from Him about how we are to pray. It is a word that goes back to His Father. But it is also a prayer that we say every day, often more than once a day, and it can become a routine and mindless repetition. As we move more deeply into the holy season of Lent, it would be good to look at these words in a more “mindful” (to use a current buzzword) fashion, perhaps even use them as an examination of conscience.
Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed by thy name
In a world where many do not acknowledge the existence of God, and many more behave as He does not exist, do we show by our lives that He is our first priority and that our relationship with Him is real? Do we look on him as our Father and on Jesus as our brother? Are we alert to the promptings of the Holy Spirit? Do we reverence the name of God in the Trinity? Do we avoid being careless or disrespectful with our language?
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven
The kingdom of heaven is both in the here and now and in the future. Do we work toward its establishment in our daily lives? Do we contribute to peace in our spheres of influence? Further, do we acknowledge that God has a plan and a call for each of us? Do we look toward the future with God’s eyes rather than our own?
Give us this day our daily bread
Do we really trust that our needs will be met? Do we believe that the Father knows what we need before we ask him? Are we able to make do with less? Do we assist with the needs of others so that they too can have confidence in God’s providence?
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us
This is the most emphasized phrase in the prayer. Jesus points to it again by saying “[i]f you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” If someone has hurt us, do we try to forgive or do we cling to the wounds? Do we offer ourselves and the other person(s) the freedom of an honest reconciliation? Do we believe that people can change?
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
Do we really have faith that we will not be given more than we can handle? Are we willing to accept the suffering that comes our way as part of an intensification of our relationship with God? Do we believe that God is speaking through the events of our lives? Accept his protection from evil? Do we take responsibility for avoiding what makes us vulnerable to it?
These questions are only a fraction of what is contained in the amazing treasure given to us by Christ himself. Let this pillar of our prayer be also a pillar of meditation this Lent so that it will be effective for us, achieving the end for which Christ offered it!
