“ONE DAY JESUS WAS PRAYING IN A CERTAIN PLACE. WHEN HE FINISHED, ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES SAID TO HIM, ‘LORD TEACH US TO PRAY, JUST AS JOHN TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES.’
HE SAID TO THEM, WHEN YOU PRAY SAY: OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN...... ”
WE OFTEN DO NOT THINK DEEPLY ABOUT WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY SAYING WHENEVER WE PRAY THE PRAYER THAT OUR LORD JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES. THE FOLLOWING THOUGHTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO HELP US THINK THROUGH AS WE SAY THE PRAYER OF OUR LORD JESUS:
THE LORD’S PRAYER (Nicaraguan) (Silence before saying the responses)
Leader: Do not say ‘Father’ if you do not behave like the child of God each day; And do not say ‘Our’ if you only think about yourself; [Silence]
Response: Our Father who art in heaven
Leader: Do not sat say ‘Hallowed be your name’ if you don’t honour that name. Do not say your kingdom come if you if you are weighed down with material goods. [Silence]
Response: Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come
Leader: Do not say ‘Your will be done’ if you do not accept the hard times as well; [Silence]
And do not say ‘As it is in heaven’ if you only ever think of yourself; [Silence]
Response: Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven
Leader: Do not say ‘Our daily bread’ if you have no concern for the hungry, orphans, widows, foreigners and the poor; [Silence]
Response: Give us this day our daily bread
Leader: Do not say ‘Forgive us our sins’ if you remain angry with your neighbours; [Silence]
Response: Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us
Do not say ‘Lead us not into temptation’ if you intend to continue living selfishly; [Silence] and
Do not say ‘Deliver us from evil’ if you will not make a stand against injustice; [Silence]
Response: Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
Leader: Do not say ‘Amen’ without considering the words of your prayer;
Response: For the kingdom and the power and glory are yours, now and forever, Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING: LUKE 11:1 – 11 (SEE ALSO MATTHEW 6: 5 – 18)
BENEDICTION
The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you
The Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace, AMEN.
