Everyone thinks that they can pray the Lord’s Prayer anywhere. It is just part of the air we breathe in our culture. This is an assumption that we need to challenge.
Jesus experienced the unfolding of the Kingdom of God among the poor and the excluded of his society. He was most uncomfortable among the rich and the powerful. Already, we have a strong clue about how we are to relate to God.
The prayer begins with ‘our.’ From its very first utterance, Jesus embraces everyone. We belong to God together. No one is excluded. To understand what this word ‘our’ includes think of an opposite to the Kingdom of God. When you go to a Roughriders game in Regina there are different levels of seating: there are the very expensive ones and then there are different layers of importance until you get to the ‘cheap’ seats. There is a hierarchy here. Those who have more money can afford the more expensive seats. The Kingdom of God is just the opposite of social ranking based on your yearly income.
You can only pray the Lord’s Prayer if you are as inclusive as Jesus. Everyone was embraced by the arms of the cross; everyone is wanted and included. When we sincerely pray the ‘our’ we are including the people who are underemployed, those who live with limitations, anyone who is different from ourselves. There can never be the rich and the poor in the heart of Jesus.
The Lord’s prayer upsets all kinds of social distinctions. There is no room for the rich and the poor distinctions, gender inequality, distinctions between those who work and those who do not and those who are well educated and trained from those who had a limited opportunity to ever go to school.
And then we ask for our daily bread. Rich people never need to ask for the food, clothing and shelter they need. They do not have to depend on God for what they need for daily survival. But the poor do. Life can be somewhat precarious when you do not have secure employment. The rapid rise in inflation squeezes the grocery budget of the poor. They know how much they need the help of God to get through another month.
And then there are the women and men who struggle with their addictions to street drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol and casino. They come to God every day and sometimes every hour just to get through the day drug free and sober. “And lead us not into temptation” means so much to them. Their daily survival depends on their connection to God’s care.
When we stand in solidarity with the poor, the suffering and the excluded of this world and our own family, the Lord’s Prayer takes on new meaning. It links us directly with our sisters and brothers who are poor and marginalized. The prayer pries open our heart in whatever places it has grown shut and indifferent towards the poor.
When you stand with the poor you will see the world in a new light. You will see God in a newness that you never expected.
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