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From: woof@hpfcda.UUCP
Newsgroups: mod.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Meditations/Questions on the Lord's Prayer
Message-ID: <6231@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU>
Date: Wed, 15-Oct-86 02:43:36 EDT
Article-I.D.: topaz.6231
Posted: Wed Oct 15 02:43:36 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 16-Oct-86 07:42:09 EDT
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Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
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Approved: christian@topaz.UUCP

I look at this prayer as more of a template, rather than a "mantra".
Jesus summarized all the different things we can talk to our Father
about.

> Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

One aspect of prayer is adoration (worship) of God.  He is so holy
(hallowed) that even his name is holy.  Perhaps a paraphrase of this
would be "Let us worship you."

> Thy kingdom come.

I always looked at this as "May your kingdom come soon".  This has
partially happened already, as God's kingdom lives in his Church (global
body of followers).  It will be consummated when Jesus returns in glory.

> Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Again, I always think this starts with an implied "May" -- "May people on
earth (including me) please you".

> Give us this day our daily bread,

Please continue to take care of our basic needs -- food, shelter,
clothing...

> and forgive us our trespasses

Pray for forgiveness of sins.  (Sometimes it's too easy to ask
forgiveness for our "sins", without really thinking about how we have
been separating ourselves from God.  I think it is important to pray for
forgiveness of specific sins and to repent and pray for the power to
overcome them.)

> as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Pray for power to forgive others.  It's easier to forgive than to
forget.  I meditate on my relationships with others and examine what I
can do to make them better, or to mend them when they're broken.

> Lead us not into temptation,

Pray that I do not stumble into situations where I would be tempted to
do something that would hurt my relationship with God.  Most of my
temptations are self-imposed, so I also pray for strength over my
weaknesses.

> but deliver us from evil.

I agree with the interpretation that this is a prayer to be sheltered
from the Evil One.

> For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

I think it is significant that the template both starts and finishes
with adoration.  Too often my prayers are of the form, "Give me; forgive
me".  God is great, and we must meditate on that.

Steve Wolf
Hewlett-Packard
Fort Collins, CO
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