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“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” Matthew 6:9-13

Even if we are in the same time zone and you read those words aloud, we are “praying” the prayer at different moments.  And that is true of all who say the Lord’s Prayer, the Family Prayer.

It is the only prayer I know that – whenever I say the words – I hear everyone else in the  background.  I hear a continual “Mexican Wave” around the planet – I feel the wave of prayer around the world – I am joined with you and you with me and we with our God.

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”

Is a prayer.  Can be a monologue.  Can be a lecture prayer.  Can be whatever we choose it to be.  It is whatever we choose to be before “our” God.

Yet I have never seen it as a monologue.  I never hear it as that. I never say it as that.  It is the one prayer I can never say alone – it is the one prayer I am never alone – ever.

So say these words with me now …

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

We are connected.  You to me and me to you and we to a God that is unique and personal to both of us.  Every time I say these words I don’t “say these words”.

I breathe in – and out – The Living Word.  I am the Living Word – just as you are.

And once you have experienced that –

Why would you ever want to monologue again?

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