Editor’s note: This week we bring to you a three-part mini-retreat devoted to reflecting on our individual and communal prayer. The retreat was written by Joe Paprocki, D.Min., author of 2027: A Book of Grace-Filled Days.
The Lord’s Prayer
Who is a famous person that you wish you could meet? Often, when the occasion arises and we have an opportunity to meet someone who is famous, we find ourselves at a loss for words. I remember when my brothers and I were kids, we had an opportunity to meet one of the Chicago Blackhawks’ hockey players. My brother Ron, nervous as anything, went up to him and asked, “Would you like to have my autograph?”
When Jesus reveals the Father to us, we may not be sure of what to say or how to talk with him. Luckily, Jesus gave us specific suggestions for how we can talk to God, our Father: the Lord’s Prayer.
Does this mean that we can’t talk to God our Father in our own words? Of course not. We talk with our friends about everyday life experiences, ups and downs, successes and failures, plans, dreams, hopes, and frustrations. One of the greatest teachers of prayer, St. Ignatius of Loyola, encouraged his followers to pray to God as one friend talking to another. We can and should pray to God in this way. However, when we cannot find our own words to pray, or if we want to pray together with someone else, we can turn to the words that Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer.
In this prayer, we begin by addressing God in an intimate manner (Our Father, or Abba, Papa) and praise his glorious presence (who art in heaven). We then pray seven petitions:
- hallowed be thy name
- thy kingdom come
- thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
- give us this day our daily bread
- and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us
- and lead us not into temptation
- but deliver us from evil.
I like to think of these seven petitions as evidence that this prayer can be thought of as our Declaration of DEpendence! By asking our Father for these seven things, we are admitting that we are totally dependent upon him for the most important things in life.
What a gift to be able to pray in the very words that Jesus himself gave us.
Reflection Questions
Choose one of the following questions, and share your thoughts with your fellow retreatants by adding your comments below this post.
- When was a time in your life when you found it difficult to pray?
- When was a time in your life when praying the Lord’s Prayer was especially meaningful for you?
- What does it mean to say that the Lord’s Prayer is our own Declaration of Dependence?
- Why are we encouraged to pray the Lord’s Prayer with confidence?
Prayer
Lord, Jesus, thank you for teaching me to pray. Holy Spirit, guide me and help me to pray without ceasing. Our Father, who art in heaven…
CCC References: 2759–2865
The Lord’s Prayer is our own Declaration of Dependence says Joe Paprocki. Well said. Thank you Sir.
Out there in the Sevagram village in the district of Wardha in the Indian State of Maharashtra, from 1936 onwards there stands an Ashram campus with several wooden huts dotting the area. One of the hut bears the name “Bapu Kuti.”
Mahatma Gandhi used that particular hut as his main residence from 1936 to 1948. In those days, all members of the Ashram community would live in the various huts, toil together, grow their vegetables and grains, rear cows, spin cotton cloth, cook together, eat together, study together, have their spiritual readings, discussions on nation building, look after their ailing brethren, and pray together.
Since the members of the Ashram community hailed from different cultural backgrounds like Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Muslim, Sikh, Parsi, and Christian, the Ashram community during their evening common prayers, spiritual reading, and chanting moments would include verses and references of multicultural and multi-spiritual relevance. The Lord’s Prayer recited in unison was one such Prayer of Dependence.
Even to this very day “The Our Father” recited with fervor and unction in Indian English, remains a special feature of the daily prayer ritual from 6.00 pm – 7.00 pm, with all members and guests squatting on the ground around a tree that was planted by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936.
Many years ago as part of a prayer group, one night I mentioned that I had just had an argument with my husband and I hated the thought of going home. One of the other participants suggested that I pray the Our Father in the following way by making it very personal: Gerard’s ( my husband’s name ) Father…give Gerard this day his daily bread and forgive him his trespasses as he forgives…and lead him not into temptation but deliver him from evil.Amen.
At first, I was stunned that someone would suggest trivializing such a Holy prayer that way. But as I drove home, I tried praying that way and I found myself forgetting my anger and being able to consider forgiving my husband.
Since then I have prayed the Our Father substituting a person’s name when he/she has been sick; in need of prayer for a variety of reasons; because I’ve been angry with the person. Each time I have felt God’s comforting Hands and tender embrace surround me.
I used to find the Lord’s Prayer somewhat difficult to understand until I read a modern use of words for it which opened up my heart to Jesus’ meaning in today’s language. It goes like this: Heavenly Father, may we (I) hold your name holy. Your kin-dom come, your desires be fulfilled on earth as they are in heaven. Give us (me) today all that we (I) need. Forgive us (me) our (my) faults as we (I) also (with your help) forgive others theirs and keep us all close to you all the day and night long. These words opened up more for me the intimacy of this treasure from Jesus in a way I hadn’t known before. Now, no matter which way I pray the Lord’s Prayer, it has greater meaning for me than I have known before.
These words opened up the meaning of the Our Father for me
TheOurFather has great meaning for me. Over a year ago I was attending a Mass at a Jesuit college. We were gathered around the altar for the Eucharistic prayer and it was at Our Father that I realized I could not speak. I pulled my husband from the chapel and said one one. Signing hm to call 911 an ambulance. I figured I was having a stroke. And as it turned out I did have a stroke. I could not say a word for 4 days. I was the the hospital 8 days. One would think it would be scary but I was graced with total peace. People kept visiting me and there was joy. After much work with speech therapy I can talk now. Not like I used to but pretty good. The Our Father has a significant place in my heart and I am still pondering why it happened at just that time. It has great meaning for me and I don’t take it for granted. It is in my daily prayer as well it has a deep affect on me when I pray it communally. Our Father….hallowed be your name.