AN ECONOMIC STATEMENT AND AN UNIVERSAL AFFIRMATION OF HOPE
It is an economic statement because the prayer invites us to join into a participative prayer for making our earthly sojourn like “…it is in heaven.” It is an affirmation of hope because it is an essential component of Jesus’ message and will be fulfilled.
OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN
A LOVING FATHER, GOD IN THE HEAVENS OF GENESIS, THE CHIEF STEWARD OF CREATION: THE VOID, THE WATERS, THE LAND
THE FISHES IN THE SEA, THE ANIMALS THAT ROAM THE EARTH, AND ALL OF US===EVERY LIVING THING
HALLOWED, (BLESSED) BE THY NAME
WE ARE HIS CHILDREN, HIS ASSISTANTS USING AND PRESERVING HIS GIFTS, ALL OF MANKIND
CO-RESPONSIBLE, DEPUTIZED STEWARDS:
WE ARE CALLED TO BLESS, HALLOW HIS NAME,
RECOGNIZE HIM AS THE CREATOR OF EVERTHING
AND FULL OF GRATITUDE,
ACCEPT OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS CHARGE.
THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE
JESUS WANTS US TO RULE OVER THE CHIEF STEWARD’S KINGDOM, HIS FATHER
ACCORDING TO HIS RULES
WHERE: ON EARTH—HERE— AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
AND WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE, WHERE WE ARE IN CHARGE,
BUT SUBJECT TO HIS RULES
SO DIFFERENT FROM THE RULES OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE OF JESUS’ TIMES(AND MODERN EMPIRES AS WELL)
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
ALL MUST HAVE ENOUGH FOR BASIC SUBSISTENCE AND DIGNITY,
WHICH MEANS THE CONDITIONS AND CAPACITY TO HALLOW HIS NAME
AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES (THE ORIGINAL WORD USED BY JESUS WAS “ DEBTS”)
AT THE TIME OF JESUS THE POOR RURAL PEASANT REGULARLY HAD TO BORROW FROM A PATRON TO PAY FOR PLANTING. THRU THE DEBT THE DOMINANT CLASS
WRESTED THEIR LAND
THEIR MEANS OF SUBSISTENCE,
CONDEMNING THEM AND FAMILIES TO AN EARLY DEATH.
JESUS’ KINGDOM:
A MINIMUM OF ECONOMIC SECURITY
TO BE ABLE ALWAYS TO “HALLOW OR HONOR” THE CHIEF STEWARD OF CREATION
BE STEWARDS TOWARDS OTHERS.
AS WE FORGIVE THOSE THAT TRESPASS AGAINST US
TWO JUST MEN/WOMEN WILL HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THEIR OWN JUSTICE
FOR HARMONY AMONG ALL THE WILLINGNESS TO FORGIVE IS ONLY SURE PATH
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
THE UNFETTERED DESIRE FOR WEALTH AND POWER
TEMPTING GOD TO GAIN ADVANTAGE
DELIVER US FROM EVIL
NO VIOLENCE
IN ORDER TO SURVIVE TO HALLOW AND HONOR
GOD’S HOLY NAME
THIS WAS JESUS’ PRAYER RECOMMENDED TO HIS HEARERS, THE POOR AND OPPRESSED OF GALILEE
IT IS OUR PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING TODAY Our Our Father