Lord’s Prayer

Jesus’ disciples sought to learn how to better communicate with the Father.  They asked Jesus about prayer and He taught them a model.

“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 (Matthew 6: 9-13).”

This simple construction provides praise to God, petition for our well being and sustenance, and our forgiveness from our faults. It contains intercession for the needs of others, and an implied thanksgiving as His power to fulfill the requests is summed up in “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory.”

While prayer can be any conversation with God, these simple requests capture virtually all the essentials.  Jesus reminded us elsewhere,

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you;seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?  Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? (Luke 11:9-12)” 

He concludes in verse 13, “how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

He later reminds His disciples that the birds of the air are cared for by God, and that “you are worth more than many sparrows (Matthew 10:31).”

So in its brevity, and simplicity Jesus’ model prayer guides us to the source of all good things. It is also a beautiful passage. Listen to it below to hear the beauty of it in Syrian Aramaic, which is very close to how Jesus originally taught it.

 

Padre