A selfish version of the Lord’s Prayer
By Charles Muchiri
Jesus taught us how to pray to God, His Father. This is the best prayer that has ever been taught. It is the ‘Lord's Prayer’ also called the ‘Pater Noster’ or ‘Our Father’. This is certainly a prayer that is packaged with the Son’s knowledge of His very own Father’s.
Surely, there can’t be any better formula to talk to God. But have you ever taken your time to note just how strongly Christ made use of possessive adjectives on this great prayer?
In English, we use possessive adjectives to show who owns or ‘possesses’ something. The possessive adjectives are: ‘My’, ‘your’, ‘his’, ‘her’, ‘its’, ‘our’ and ‘their’. ‘Whose’ is an interrogative possessive adjective.
My count reveals that Christ used a staggering Nine possessive adjective – ‘OUR’ in a prayer of just 54 words! (As we recite it in the Roman Catholic Church)
That is amazing! And what’s more remarkable? There is absolutely no use of the possessive adjective ‘My’.
So, what does that tell us? That Christ is very much aware that the way to God, His Father is through minding about others, period.
Interceding for others; interweaving our petitions with the needs of our neighbours. That’s it!
So, let’s look at this prayer from selfish perspective:
My Father who is at Heaven
Hollowed be your name
Your kingdom come
Your will be done on Earth
As it is in Heaven
Give Me this day My daily bread
Forgive Me My trespasses
As I forgive those who trespass against Me
Lead Me not into temptations
But deliver Me from all evils
Amen.
Doesn’t it tell us then, that our God is the Father of us all, the King of us all, the creator of us all, the provider of us all, the forgiver of us all, the guide and redeemer of us all?
If you were to ask me, my answer will be a resounding affirmation!
The writer can be reached on E-mail: muchirimuchoki@yahoo.com
By Charles Muchiri
Jesus taught us how to pray to God, His Father. This is the best prayer that has ever been taught. It is the ‘Lord's Prayer’ also called the ‘Pater Noster’ or ‘Our Father’. This is certainly a prayer that is packaged with the Son’s knowledge of His very own Father’s.
Surely, there can’t be any better formula to talk to God. But have you ever taken your time to note just how strongly Christ made use of possessive adjectives on this great prayer?
In English, we use possessive adjectives to show who owns or ‘possesses’ something. The possessive adjectives are: ‘My’, ‘your’, ‘his’, ‘her’, ‘its’, ‘our’ and ‘their’. ‘Whose’ is an interrogative possessive adjective.
My count reveals that Christ used a staggering Nine possessive adjective – ‘OUR’ in a prayer of just 54 words! (As we recite it in the Roman Catholic Church)
That is amazing! And what’s more remarkable? There is absolutely no use of the possessive adjective ‘My’.
So, what does that tell us? That Christ is very much aware that the way to God, His Father is through minding about others, period.
Interceding for others; interweaving our petitions with the needs of our neighbours. That’s it!
So, let’s look at this prayer from selfish perspective:
My Father who is at Heaven
Hollowed be your name
Your kingdom come
Your will be done on Earth
As it is in Heaven
Give Me this day My daily bread
Forgive Me My trespasses
As I forgive those who trespass against Me
Lead Me not into temptations
But deliver Me from all evils
Amen.
Doesn’t it tell us then, that our God is the Father of us all, the King of us all, the creator of us all, the provider of us all, the forgiver of us all, the guide and redeemer of us all?
If you were to ask me, my answer will be a resounding affirmation!
The writer can be reached on E-mail: muchirimuchoki@yahoo.com
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