My church says the Lord’s Prayer during each of our worship services. Here is the version that I am used to.
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, and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
My pastor shared a few other versions of the prayer. One version was titled “The Lord’s Prayer for Justice.” An American nun and author named Joan Chrittister wrote it.
Our Father who art in heaven…
Remind us that you are not only in heaven but here on earth too,
In the faces of the poor, the hungry, the homeless,
And the forgotten.
Hallowed by thy name…
May the reverence we give your name
Pull us from our petty preoccupations
And focus us on your will for the world.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…
Help us to build your kingdom here:
A kingdom of peace, justice, and mercy.
Give us this day our daily bread…
So that we may share with others
What we have received from your hand.
Forgive us our trespasses…
As we open our hearts to forgive those
Who have offended us.
Lead us not into temptation…
Especially the temptation to close our eyes
To the injustice around us.
But deliver us from evil…
For our world is fraught with darkness.
Let us be bearers of your light.
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory,
Forever and ever. Amen.
My pastor gave us a copy of this prayer. I really like it. The first verse reminds me of the Catholic Worker Movement. I have read about Dorothy Day and Mother Theresa and loved their focus on helping the least among us. This prayer is a great guide on how I want to live my life.