Deliberately Diverse represents the thoughts and opinions of a group of Taylor friends who almost never completely agree about anything but are gratified to stimulate deliberately diverse discussions in our beloved community.
Today’s column represents the thoughts and opinions of The Reverend Terry Pierce, vicar of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Taylor.
In Luke’s Gospel, the disciples say “Teach us how to pray.” And Jesus teaches them this: ‘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 indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.’
Last week, I suggested the first part says, “Creator God.
Our work is to bring the Kingdom of God here and now. Give us the bread that we need.” And the prayer continues, “And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.”
We might want to say, forgive us the sins we are willing to forgive.
Remember the man who asked Jesus who his neighbor was?
Really he was asking who wasn’t his neighbor – who could he hate? So Jesus gives a command – forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Period. If sin is the seeking of our own will instead of the will of God, sin distorts not only our relationship with God, but also our relationship with other people and with creation. Jesus’ answer to who can I hate was always No one. Who can I choose not to forgive an indebtednss – the answer is always No one.
Diana Butler Bass reminds us of what is always present with Jesus living in a Roman world: Jesus teaches his followers to leave behind the whole system of indebtedness that obligates people to Caesar.
Seen from this angle, the Lord’s prayer describes a circle of abundance that begins in heaven, where there is always enough and no want, where all are blessed. Heaven is a vision of what this world is to be, a community that trusts God’s provision and holds no one in debt. “Sin” is when the circle of abundance is abused — and when we see “gifts” as something we have earned, own, and can make others earn — and we set up a system of indebtedness whereby we enrich ourselves and control others.
“And do not bring us to the time of trial.”
Jesus looked at the time of trial as the coming of a destructive crisis, perhaps in relation to war with Rome or the impoverishment that Rome imposed on those she conquered. Rowan Williams says that Jesus meant, “Don’t, please God don’t push us into the time of crisis before you’ve made us ready for it. Don’t push us until you’ve given us what we need to face it.” It is a request for courage to face what is coming. It is a prayer made in faith that God will see us through whatever is ahead.
