Bishop Eric Menees
As we continue our journey through the Daily Office of the
2019 Book of Common Prayer, and specifically Morning Prayer, we come to The
Prayers. Having read the Word of God and responded to it with our statement of
faith – The Apostles’ Creed, we now move on to our calling out to God in
prayer.
It begins with the Kyrie:
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
With these words we are reminded that it is an awesome thing
to come into the presence of God. Apart from His Grace we deserve punishment,
and we bid His mercy upon us as we offer our praises, prayers, and petitions.
Trusting in God’s mercy we metaphorically step before the
throne of God and offer the prayer that Jesus himself taught the disciples when
asked, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1)
Jesus responded with perhaps the most well-known prayer of
all time. This prayer speaks to the soul of the believer and raises us to the
throne of God as we simultaneously praise God, acknowledge his sovereignty, and
bid his compassion on us, both physically by providing us our “daily bread” and
spiritually by asking his forgiveness. Furthermore, Jesus invites us to do this
as God’s children calling out “Abba, Father!”
The 2019 BCP, like the 1979 BCP, offers us two forms of the
Lord’s Prayer, either using the language from the King James Bible or more
modern language. Try as I might I’ve not been able to use the modern language with
any consistency but that is a matter of personal preference.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy
Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in
heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against
us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from
evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and
the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
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.
And forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from
evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are
yours,
now and forever.
Amen.
I pray you all a very blessed week!
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