University of Virginia Library

The prayer of Jesus Christ

Our Master taught his disciples one brief prayer, which we name after him the Lord's Prayer. Our Mas- ter said, "After this manner therefore pray ye," and then he gave that prayer which covers all human needs. There is indeed some doubt among Bible scholars, whether the last line is not an addition to the prayer by a later copyist; but this does not affect the meaning of the prayer itself.

In the phrase, "Deliver us from evil," the original properly reads, "Deliver us from the evil one." This reading strengthens our scientific apprehension of the peti- tion, for Christian Science teaches us that "the evil one," or one evil, is but another name for the first lie and all liars.

Only as we rise above all material sensuousness and sin, can we reach the heaven-born aspiration and spir- itual consciousness, which is indicated in the Lord's Prayer and which instantaneously heals the sick.

Here let me give what I understand to be the spir- itual sense of the Lord's Prayer: Our Father which art in heaven, Our Father-Mother God, all-harmonious, Hallowed be Thy name. Adorable One. Thy kingdom come. Thy kingdom is come; Thou art ever-present.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Enable us to know,- as in heaven, so on earth,- God is omnipotent, supreme. Give us this day our daily bread; Give us grace for to-day; feed the famished affections; And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And Love is reflected in love; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; And God leadeth us not into temptation, but delivereth us from sin, disease, and death. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. For God is infinite, all-power, all Life, Truth, Love, over all, and All.