Mennonite
Central
Committee

Our Father: A Reflection

By Mary Beth Leeper, MCC Bolivia

"And this 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,
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

As part of the MCC community, we have chosen to immerse ourselves in circumstances where injustice is evident and real. I have spent this last year in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, counseling children who are working on the streets to make money for their families. Through this experience, one thing has become very clear to me: just when I think I am making a small difference in the life of one child, I see handfuls more that I haven’t yet reached. Working in this environment can be so overwhelming!

However, after hearing the experiences of others who work with MCC in Latin America I am beginning to understand how God weaves all of us into His plan for peace. Each of us is taking steps working towards justice according to the needs that surround us. Jesus and his disciples also confronted difficult times and unfair policies. When they became overwhelmed or insecure, Christ taught them to pray. It is in this same light that I offer my reflections on the inequalities we see in our world today. I hope it can serve as an outline for others to integrate their own experiences into God’s word and guiding hand.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.

You have created this world, and all of us in it: the woman working 20-hour days in unsafe conditions in a sweatshop and the child washing car windows to earn money for his family, giving up the opportunity to study; the college student protesting against free trade and the family in the North who recently committed themselves to three more years of voluntary service in a developing country. As workers in your field we are overwhelmed by the injustices that surround us. Our work seems so small compared to the problems we face! However, we recognize that you are still in control, suffering when we see hatred and rejoicing when we see glimmers of hope. We ask you to accompany us in our journey, and to hear our prayers.

*Psalm 146:5-7; Psalm 24:1-2

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done

We have corrupted your visions of humanity by building societies that revolve around the creation of wealth. It seems that as our knowledge of the world expands, so does our greed, and we continue the cycle of coercion and oppression of the poor in search of personal gain. Echoing the cries of Isaiah, we ask for your kingdom to be revealed. Recognizing that you desire economic justice, not material equality, may you show us how we can reflect your will as we face critical decisions in our policies.

*Luke 4:14-19; Isaiah 61

Give us today our daily bread

You provided the Israelites with manna for physical nourishment as well as continued promises of protection and sustenance. In the same way, you have given us the body and blood of Christ as well as your written word in the Bible. Teach us to rely on these gifts for our personal strength and direction, while at the same time not to hold this spiritual food to ourselves but share with others.

Also, it is evident we have not followed your commandment not to take more than we need; even the physical food you have made available to us has been kept in the hands of few while many are left in need. We pray especially for those who don’t have enough food or clean water to live, making it hard for them to see the abundance that you desire for all your children. Teach us to follow Christ’s example, not turning our backs to human need but using that which you have already given us to offer to others. We fear that as trade barriers are lowered, the wealthy North will reap the benefits of more food variety and cheaper produce while the farmers in the south will lose the market they once competed in. Please be with those communities who are suffering on account of new trade agreements as well as those who are fighting for justice.

*Exodus 16; Amos 5:11-16; Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 14:22-26; 2 Corinthians 8; 1 John 3:16-20

And forgive us our trespasses

We see evidence of the many ways your people are being oppressed: discrimination against indigenous people; women not being allowed to obtain fair employment; and hungry children on the streets. Forgive us for allowing these (and many other) injustices to continue. Forgive us for violating your most important commandments: clearly we do not love our neighbor as ourselves. Help us to see our individual responsibility even when we feel too weak to make a difference.

* Leviticus 19:18; Nehemiah 1:5-11; Daniel 9:4-19; Matthew 22:34-39; Luke 23:34

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

It is easy to blame the political leaders whose laws and policies are laying the groundwork for this corruption and oppression. Help us to see our personal call in these processes, knowing that blaming those in power brings no active change. In order to be peacemakers, we must move away from hatred, selfishness and guilt which keep us trapped in the forces of evil. If we share these same feelings with the people causing the violence, how will we ever achieve peace? We must not only feel your forgiveness in our own hearts, but sincerely forgive those around us as you have called us to do. By continually forgiving each other, we hope to create a community of peace.

*Matthew 18:21-35; Matthew 25:35-45

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

We are surrounded by temptation, making it easy to lose sight of your peace and justice. Tempted to think we create our wealth; tempted to believe that money will solve problems; tempted to heal our own wounds instead of reaching out to help our community; tempted to think that we are more powerful than our neighbor; tempted to think we have the answers; tempted to live in ignorance of the injustice that surrounds us. We know that you are not blind to this, but indeed have overcome it: you allowed Satan to lead you through the desert, proving that your word is our shield and protection from these temptations. Recognizing, though, that we will never be completely free from this sin, keep our eyes pointed to Jesus in our time of need.

*Deuteronomy 8:17-18; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Hebrews 2:18

For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

May this promise sustain us through the challenges and give us peace in our hearts – the peace that comes only from you – as we spread your love to the world.