The Prayer of the Lord

It is early in the day on a Monday—you’ve just woken from your sleep wrapped in your cloak—you and the other disciples, most still sleepy, all very hungry, start to realize that Jesus is nowhere to be seen. You had spent the night camped out a little distance from the main road; the only roof over your heads was the wide-spreading boughs of the tree above you. The morning breeze now faintly flutters its leaves; you and the others rise to go and look and find Jesus, wherever He happens to be.

It doesn’t take very long. He is just over the nearest rise, sitting and facing away in the direction of the western horizon. He, as so often in the early mornings, is perfectly still. You know that He is talking with His Father. Just the sight of Him there—so sitting and still and talking and, even, at times, smiling—is enough to make you wish for exactly what He has. So, today, you walk right up to Him. He opens His eyes; sees you. And, without missing a beat, you ask the following question: “Lord, John used to teach his disciples how to pray. Would you teach us how to pray?” 

Oh! how His eyes light up! how His lips take on the grandest loveliest smile you’ve ever seen! And looking you directly in the eye, and with the same beautiful smile, He says, simply: 

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 debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.