St Margaret's Church Prestwich

This sermon was preached by Rev Helen on Wednesday 11 October 2023. Here it is for you again:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever. The Lord’s Prayer, the our father, the prayer that Jesus taught his followers while he was with them which we heard in todays reading. I’m sure that there are people here who have just heard me recite another version of the prayer, that isn’t the one they’re used to hearing and found it strange, maybe even a little unnerving or unsettling. It’s always one of those things when you go to a church, which version of the Lords Prayer are they going to use, oh they’re not using the one I’m used. Then you end up saying a slightly strange or jumbled version of the Lords Prayer which confuses everyone!

No matter which version we use how much do we actually think about the words we say when we recite this prayer. Do we just say them without thinking about them. How well do we know this prayer or really think about the words that you’re saying? Do you take the words of this prayer for granted, I know I do at times. The prayer originally ended as it does in todays gospel ‘deliver us from evil’ however during the reformation the doxology was added to the end For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Some versions of the bible reflect this change while others don’t, as always it depends on the translation you are reading.

To put todays gospel into context, this narrative of the Lords prayer is in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, we have heard Luke’s version today but in Matthew’s gospel it is part of the sermon on the mount. Jesus long teaching discourse and as part of it there is this prayer for those listening to learn how to pray and what to pray for. As Christians we are called to pray at least once a day there are lots of prayers that have been written over the years from the early Christians to christians today, we write or say our own personal prayers as well. Prayer is an important for Christians but this the only prayer Jesus left for Christians which is why it is held in such high regard. These are the things that Jesus has asked us to pray for and about so lets take a bit of time to look at this. I think we can really dig down into it when we look at other versions beyond the traditional and the modern, using the way they explore the themes and the words to see what is saying and what God wants us to see.

Let me give you a couple of examples, this is a version written in 1999 published in Minnesota Women’s Press to celebrate and pray for creation, as we have been thinking about creation and harvest recently. Our mother, which art the earth, nurturing are thy ways. Thy web of life be woven, thy way be found within, as it is all around. Thank you this day for our daily bread and work, and forgive us our misuse of you, as we forgive others their misuse of us. And lead us not into exploitation, but deliver us from lording it over you, and over each other and over all our other fellow creatures. For thine are the waters of life, the hills, valleys and plains of home, the breeding, seeding, feeding ground, for now, and for as close to forever As we will ever come. Words have changed but you still know it’s the Lord Prayer.

This one based on the original Aramaic, the language Jesus would have spoken in his everyday life. This is probably as near to Jesus words as we are likely to get. O cosmic Birther, from whom the breath of life comes, who fills all realms of sound, light and vibration. May Your light be experienced in my utmost holiest. Your Heavenly Domain approaches. Let Your will come true in the universe (all that vibrates) just as on earth (that is material and dense). Give us wisdom (understanding, assistance) for our daily need, detach the fetters of faults that bind us, like we let go the guilt of others. Let us not be lost in superficial things (materialism, common temptations), but let us be freed from that what keeps us off from our true purpose. From You comes the all-working will, the lively strength to act, the song that beautifies all and renews itself from age to age. Sealed in trust, faith and truth.

 So what are we praying for and asking God for when we say this prayer? I would interpret it a bit like this. God father/mother is in heaven watching over, protecting and caring for us as we live our lives on earth. What do we do as we wait for God’s Kingdom to come? We look to Jesus who came to earth to teach and preach about the Kingdom of God and that is the example that we have to follow to be allowed access to God’s Kingdom. By making this commitment to God and by following Jesus teachings and example God will provide us with what we need to live a full and complete life. We ask God to forgive us when we ask for forgiveness but understand that there is a price for that forgiveness, as it says in Matthew 6:14 – 15 (the verse after the Lords Prayer) it says  For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Then a final plea for God to look after and protect us from anything that may do us harm. It’s does sound a bit transactional but there’s a promise in the prayer if you obey me and do as Jesus taught I will protect you, keep you safe and offer you a place in my kingdom.

Now that’s what I think, take it for what it is you might have a different feeling. Here’s two challenges to you. Next time you say the Lord’s Prayer (which is probably going to be very soon) really think about what you are praying for and what God is saying in that prayer. The second is sometime when you pray the Lord’s Prayer use a version you’re a little less familiar with, swap the traditional for the modern or vise versa, or look for other interpretations of it. But really think about the words, what the prayer is saying. This is the only prayer Jesus gave us in that precious time he was on earth with us. Let’s really take it in and thank God for sending Jesus as we do. Amen

 

Rev Helen