Today we complete our look at Fr. Gerhard Lohfink’s “The Our Father: A New Reading”

The 5th Petition “forgive us our sins” is in both Matthew and Luke’s versions of the Our Father.  It is the prayer of the new family around Jesus, so who must forgive? Jesus’ disciples or the whole people of God, “… of every member of the people of God.”

The 6th Petition was probably the last petition of the Our Father as

taught by Jesus Protection in Time of Testing, “Lead us not into temptation!” it is an appeal for help.

“Can God lead people into temptation?”  Think about Abraham’s temptation/testing, where he must decide against God and for

evil or for God and thus for good.

Testing is confronting evil and is connected with being called, “Consequently, the petition can only mean: ‘Lead us not into a situation of testing beyond our strength!  Lead us not into a situation in which the power of evil is stronger than we are!”

Reflect on account of Jesus being tempted in Matthew’s Gospel, the fundamental temptation of the people of God in this world is not to live as a people that give honor to God alone; this petition deals with Liberation from Evil.

In Luke’s version we pray – “Lead us not into temptation, while in Matthew’s – “but deliver us from evil” [Greek text – evil or the evil one] the Church’s understanding of the 7th petition comes from 2Timothy 4:18 Rescue from the evil realities of the world All evil not just the Evil one.

The last clause of the Our Father breaks off with a “desperate cry”

Luke’s ending is unusual and chilling, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”

May you pray the Our Father with a deeper reverence and more profound love of God.  If possible take the time to read Gerhard Lohfink’s book, it will be a mini retreat.

May God Be Praised!