As we read this month through the gospel of St Luke at weekday eucharist we have reached the start of Chapter 11 and Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer. It's shorter than Matthew’s but is still formative of the prayer we will use later on in our worship.
The prayer Jesus taught us has five aspirations: belonging, purpose, empowerment, forgiveness and direction.
It starts Our Father which is an aspiration for the world to be a place of belonging that goes beyond this world. The building of bridges between Jews and Gentiles by Peter and Paul referred to in the passage from Galatians was an extraordinary new beginning in terms of inclusion. When we pray to God as Christians we pray Our Father, that is on behalf of all - especially, yes, on behalf of those who know Jesus, but also on behalf of all people since God ultimately wants everyone and everything to be gathered together in Christ.
This is captured as Jesus teaches us to pray Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. All three phrases effectively say the same, that God won’t let us waste our energies but direct them towards what’s right - and what’s right is the building of unity in the truth that is in Jesus, in our circle, community, nation and across the world.
Thirdly Jesus brings empowerment of body and spirit. Give us this day our daily bread. Even in Sussex that prayer applies to physical bread in the case of some of us, but Jesus promises food not just for the body. He came to bring the food for the spirit that’s given us day by day through prayer, the bible and the eucharist. At this eucharist we ask that Holy Spirit for ourselves and all who’re overwhelmed by the cares and crises of the world.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. No one else is equipped as Jesus is to bring forgiveness and a new start to all of us who’re caught by our past wrongdoing. Joseph called him Jesus because he saves his people from their sins.
The prayer moves to its conclusion with a plea for discernment. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. God sent Jesus so you and I could know what’s important in our lives and do it. God loves us so much he doesn’t want our lives lost in trivial things but caught up into his grand scheme.
As we prepare to celebrate the eucharist we aspire as ever for what Jesus wants - for us and for the whole world – belonging for the isolated, purpose for the lost, empowerment for the overwhelmed, forgiveness for sinners and direction for those who’re wasting their lives. So be it - for the kingdom, the power and the glory are his for ever. Amen
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