This is my final reflection on Fr. Gerhard Lohfink on the Our Father, when you offer an Our Father please include me in your intentions.

Thank you and God Bless!

 

God’s interest comes first

1^st three petitions your / thou askings: 1. hallowed be your name, 2. your kingdom come and 3. your will be done

2^nd three or four we petitions: 1. give us today our daily bread, 2. forgive us our trespasses, 3. lead us not into temptation and 4. deliver us from evil

The 1^st part of the Our Father deals with the name, reign and the will of God

The 2^nd part deals with the disciples’ interests.

God acts through people

Odd construction of the first three petitions.

The indirectness is for one reason, “… the Our Father expresses a fundamental theological insight: God takes the initiative.  God acts.  Everything comes from God.”

“In the Our Father, Jesus summarized all that he wanted and hoped for.”

I hope that these few insights encourage you to read Fr. Gerhard Lohfink’s book, The Our Father: A New Reading.

May God be Praised!