- Our Father in heaven, let your name be kept holy. Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven:
- The kingdom has come to Earth, so that God’s will can be done here and not just in heaven. God’s will? That we love others and love him, in a contagious way that spreads to all the world.
- This spreading of love will unleash kindness on the world. Contagious love is the best way to liberate people from selfishness and from the pain caused by others
- Give us our daily bread today.
- God will be our provider, rescuing us from physical need and suffering. Note that this is not absolute, in that praying this prayer does not end human hunger. What does this mean? God is working to provide for the needy, and he is building his kingdom of compassion that can spread his good work. We must complete the work to provide for the needy. And God is always working to provide for his children.
- More broadly speaking, God meets our needs when we depend on him. Depending on God liberates us from the cycle of selfish greed, allowing us to make unselfish choices.
- Forgive us as we forgive others.
- God liberates us from the pain caused by the sin of others, especially the darkness in our hearts that comes from a lack of forgiveness.
- God liberates us from the pain caused by our own sins. Forgiveness is spiritual liberation. We are free to live, in spite of our sin and human tendency toward selfishness.
- Don’t allow us to be tempted.
- God liberates us from spiritual failure, helping us to avoid traps and hazards that would lead us to fall into selfishness again.
- Instead, rescue us from the evil one.
- God liberates us from the deceiver and all his evil intent! Clearly in this line, God is named specifically as the rescuer.
(Matthew 6:9-13, God's Word)
When you hear or pray the Lord's prayer, I pray that you will receive freedom. Freedom from anything that binds you, that holds you back from your true potential. Freedom from the cycle of selfish greed, freedom from need and want. Freedom to live, freedom to enjoy, freedom to give, freedom to explore compassion and unselfishness. May God's will be done in an ever expanding way through your life and the lives of those you will touch. Amen.
When you hear or pray the Lord's prayer, I pray that you will receive freedom. Freedom from anything that binds you, that holds you back from your true potential. Freedom from the cycle of selfish greed, freedom from need and want. Freedom to live, freedom to enjoy, freedom to give, freedom to explore compassion and unselfishness. May God's will be done in an ever expanding way through your life and the lives of those you will touch. Amen.
Justice and kindness for some but for those who are doing the oppressing, I'll bet they would not see it as being kind. For them it would be judgement. Are you able to say that?
ReplyDeleteClassic question: should be tolerate the intolerant? Should we judge the judgmental?
ReplyDeleteA great way to put this question is: What Would Jesus Judge (WWJJ)? We can find examples where Jesus had harsh words for people. 9 times out of 10 they were directed at the religious establishment for being too judgmental.
My answer: fight injustice. Do it with love, and as much tolerance as possible. Love our enemies.