My spouse, Marcus, and I have been watching a fair amount of movies lately. This past weekend, he chose
Friday Night Lights
for us to watch. I've always been a fan of most sports films; however, I've never seen this one. Marcus, on the other hand, can quote nearly the entire movie and tears up at the end.
It's amazing how these movies draw us in. Towards the end of the movie (no spoilers, I promise), the teams were gathered in their various locker rooms. In moments when they were trying to dig up whatever energy they had left, they prayed the Lord's Prayer together.
Do you remember when you learned the Lord's Prayer?
Have you ever said it outside of a church setting?
Growing up, my dad and I prayed each night before bedtime. One of these prayers was the Lord's Prayer. It seeks to connect us through prayer with many before us, many with us, and many beyond us.
I invite you to read Matthew 6:5-14 (NRSV)
5
“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
6
But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7
“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.
8
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9
“Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11
Give us this day our daily bread.
12
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
14
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you;
15
but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
What does it mean to you when we pray "Give us this day our daily bread?"
Do you say "debts" or "trespasses?" Do you favor one translation over the other?
What other portions stand out to you in this passage?
In this time of COVID-19, there has been a surge of bread-baking around the world. Sourdough, whole-wheat, gluten-free, rosemary-infused, flatbread, and all different varieties. As we continue into this time of physical distancing, what does it look like for us to ask for daily bread? May we continue to be mindful of noticing God in our everyday lives- in the bread that we may or may not eat, the water that we drink, and the prayers that we pray.
I invite you to read the traditional or the contemporary
version
of the Lord's prayer:
Traditional Version
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen
.
Contemporary Version
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen
.
