"Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test.”
(Luke 11:2-4)
The Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father, is one of the most well-known and cherished prayers in Christianity. It was taught by Jesus to His disciples as a model for how to pray. It appears in two forms in the New Testament: a longer version in the Gospel of Matthew (6:9-13) and a shorter version in the Gospel of Luke (11:2-4)12. The prayer incorporates elements of Jewish prayers and teachings, reflecting themes such as reverence for God, requests for daily sustenance, forgiveness, and deliverance from evil.
Liturgical Adaptation: Early Christian communities adapted the prayer from the Gospel texts and taught it to new converts. The version we use today includes a doxology (“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen”), which was added early in Christian liturgical practice.
Didachē: The doxology is believed to have originated in the Didachē, a compilation of Christian teachings from the 1st or 2nd century. The Lord’s Prayer is used by most Christian denominations in their worship services. Despite theological differences, it serves as a unifying prayer for Christians around the world. Following the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), the doxology was added to the Roman Catholic Mass, reflecting a gesture of ecumenism and unity among different Christian traditions.
The Lord’s Prayer is recited in various forms of daily prayer, such as the Roman Catholic rosary and the Anglican daily office. It continues to be a model for personal and communal prayer, emphasizing key aspects of Christian faith and practice. The key elements of the Lord’s Prayer are as follows:
Addressing God as Father: This signifies a personal and intimate relationship with God.
Hallowed be Your name: Acknowledging the holiness and sanctity of God’s name. Start your day by acknowledging God’s holiness and greatness.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done: Expressing a desire for God’s reign and His will to be fulfilled on earth. In your decisions and actions, seek to align with God’s will and purpose.
Daily bread: Asking for God’s provision for our daily needs. Trust God to provide for your needs each day.
Forgiveness: Seeking God’s forgiveness for our sins and committing to forgive others. Practice forgiveness, both in seeking it from God and extending it to others.
Guidance and Protection: Asking for God’s guidance to avoid temptation and for protection from evil. Pray for strength to resist temptation and for protection from harm.
Our Father in heaven, so holy and true,
Your kingdom come, Your will we pursue.
On earth as in heaven, Your love we proclaim,
In every heart, we honor Your name.
Give us this day our daily bread,
Nourish our souls, by Your Spirit we’re led.
Forgive our trespasses, as we forgive,
In Your boundless grace, we learn to live.
Lead us not into temptation’s snare,
Deliver us, Lord, from every despair.
For Yours is the kingdom, the power, the glory,
Forever and ever, in Your wondrous story.
Amen.
Pericope:
V: The Journey to Jerusalem: Luke's Travel Narrative
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Luke 11:1-4
Gospel Acclamation
You have received a spirit of adoption as sons through which we cry: Abba! Father!
Gospel | Luke 11:1-4
1 Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread 4 and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”
Reflection Source:
Conversation with Co-Pilot