Tuesday, April 28, 2009

"For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, for ever and ever, Amen!"



Since the main body of the Lord's Prayer consists of pledges to our Maker,it follows that we have to live this prayer! The prayer must become a living experience for us (not just a set of words that we rattle off!)

This last part of the prayer comes therefore as a jubilant expression of our reliance on the Omnipotence of God. It is a confession of total trust in the power which the Lord bestows on all who trust in Him - the power to do all the things that has been promised at the feet of The Almighty by the praying soul!



When however, we live our lives in fulfilment of the pledges in the Lord's Prayer we are on the way that leads to the Kingdom of Heaven, the Eternal Gardens of the blessed. Therefore, this prayer is at the same time a staff that supports us in our life's journey.


May we live accordingly!

Friday, April 24, 2009

"But deliver us from evil!"


The word "but" in this sentence shows a connection with the last one. The prayer here is that we be permitted to recognise evil at whatever cost, even at the cost of suffering.


We can actually benefit from our mistakes and the subsequent repercussions if we recognise them as such and make a change. Deliverance and redemption lies in recognising that we are wrong and that the unpleasant result is rightly deserved. The thief to the right of Jesus during the crucifixion exemplified this clearly. He acknowledged that he was suffering for his own wrongdoing before making a plea for mercy which the Lord granted him.


May we be able to derive benefits from the results of our actions so that true forgiveness can be ours.

"And lead us not into temptation!"


It should never occur to us that the Creator of all will tempt us.His Will is that we come to know of Him as He really is, leaving behind all unsteady pictures and believing only in His Perfection and Justice.

This prayer therefore is a plea that we be spared from erring, going astray, going wrong and seeking the Lord in the wrong way or on the wrong path.

May all who seek the Lord find the way, the Way of Truth!

Amen!

"And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us"


What a man sows that shall he reap! So, he who sows forgiveness cannot but reap the same. This prayer presupposes that the person praying not only knows and acknowledges this Law of the Most High, but shows that he has complete confidence therein!

No doubt, actions born out of the intent to revenge cannot proceed from a pure heart. Such actions reek of guile and evil intentions which makes such actions wrong!He who has forgiven his fellow men will not act based on such intentions but will proceed from a clarified and mature mindset.

Through this prayer however, we receive from our Father the strength to always think, speak and act out of love, do only that which will be of benefit to our neighbours, and seeking the welfare of our fellow men.