Viewpoints
The Lord’s Prayer
By +Oscar V. Cruz, JCD
OUR FATHER
WHO ART IN HEAVEN
HOLY BE YOUR NAME
YOUR KINGDOM COME
YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
GIVE US THIS DAY
OUR DAILY BREAD
AND FORGIVE US OUR SINS
AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
AND DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
THERE is but one prayer taught by Christ Himself. There is but one prayer that is so theological and yet so practical, that is so profound and yet so simple. There is but one prayer that teaches much to all people who profess the Christian faith – irrespective of race and color.
The Lord’s Prayer is most inclusive, most generous and most practical.
It is the most inclusive prayer because it calls upon the Father as having dominion not only in heaven but also on earth.
It is the most generous prayer because it repeatedly uses the words “our,” “us” and “we” – with no “my,” “me,” “mine.”
It is the most practical prayer because after acclaiming and praising the Father, it mentions the word “forgive” followed by asking for “bread.”
The standing and distinct truth about the prayer “Our Father” taught by Christ Himself to His followers is that: It is a prayer that is known and said by the young and the old alike. It is also a constituent prayer of the Holy Mass in the sense that the prayer is included in every Holy Mass. It is wherefore a prayer that makes the rounds of the world from morning to sunset whenever and wherever the Holy Mass is celebrated as the earth turns around the sun – form sun-up to sun-down.
There must be a thousand or more prayers composed by these and those holy men and women. There must be different prayers for different occasion in different times. There must be innumerable prayers having innumerable words and expressions. But there is but one prayer that is taught by no one else but Christ Himself.
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