It was a community Easter Sunrise Service sponsored by three different churches. One of the most respected ministers in the community, a Disciples of Christ pastor, gave the invocation which led into the shared saying of the Lord’s Prayer. Only it wasn’t shared. The minister put it on autopilot and in the process forgot a couple of lines. When the congregation finally got through it, my ministerial colleague sheepishly opened his eyes and confessed: "It’s a pastor’s worse nightmare – to forget the Lord’s Prayer. And even worse, to forget it in front of a Baptist minister!" We all howled with laughter.
But then again, how many times have we prayed the Lord’s Prayer in such rote ways that we don’t think about what we are saying or get lost in our own wanderings? This prayer which seems so simple isn’t simple at all. Just think about it . . .
"Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name . . ." We tend to run right past this line without even pausing to consider the incredible majesty of God’s creation.
"Let Your kingdom come; let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven . . ." How much different would our days be if we began with the recognition that God’s kingdom is to be articulated through us?
"Give us this day our daily bread . . ." In a land of abundance how often do we think of the many miracles which take place to put food on our tables?
"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us . . ." The first part of this petition is easy to pray but the last part?
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil . . ." What if we took seriously the evil around us and our need for God’s guidance?
"For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever . . ." Before moving on to our own agendas, it is nice to linger here and remember where we’ve come from and where we’re going . . .
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