Monday, October 13, 2008



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. (Matthew 6:9-10)

What are we saying in the Lord's prayer? For what are we asking?

Your kingdom, reign, power, authority...

Come, arise, become known, find influence...

Your will, desire, intent, purpose, delight...

Be done, emerge, begin, become, appear...

Come and done are both in the present or imperfect tense. Greek (and Hebrew) are more action oriented than time oriented languages. Where English has past, present, future, Greek is organized around finished or unfinished action.

So we might more accurately read the instructions of Jesus as, "Your kingdom coming, your will emerging on earth as in heaven."

Above is Cultivating the Cosmic Tree by Hildegard of Bingen.

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