What has been called the “Lord’s Prayer” is perhaps the most widely repeated prayer on the planet.  There are several versions of this prayer and what follows is the most common version along with a slight variation which is noted in parenthesis.  The Latin version follows. 

Go to the web and you will find many interpretations of this prayer ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime.  For Christians, this prayer is ingrained in memory even if one has rejected most religious dogma and chosen a more spiritual or mystical path of thought.  It is important to understand that when viewed properly, this prayer is a very powerful mantra of spiritual growth.  In its commonly used form, many recite the words with little thought for its meaning and message.  Many repeat the words and fail to find the “spirit” beneath the words.  Even this prayer is one of the parables that few understand.

When Jesus was asked how to pray, He cited the following as a guide.  After the actual text, I offer my comments and then my version of the message that lay beneath the words.

Pater noster

Our Father, which art in Heaven,

(Our Father in Heaven,)

Hallowed be thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

(Your kingdom come,

Your will be done,)

in earth as it is in Heaven.

(on earth as in Heaven.)

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive them that trespass against us.

( Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us).

And lead us not into temptation;

But deliver us from evil.

( Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.)

[For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory,

For ever and ever.] Amen. 

ever.] Amen. 

Latin version

Pater noster, qui es in caelis:

sanctificetur Nomen Tuum;

adveniat Regnum Tuum;

fiat voluntas Tua,

sicut in caelo, et in terra.

Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie;

et dimitte nobis debita nostra,

Sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris;

et ne nos inducas in tentationem;

sed libera nos a Malo.

COMMENTARY: Our Father, which art in Heaven,

(Our Father in Heaven,)

One would think that this line states the obvious.  It is like saying, “The Pope who is in Rome,” or “George Bush who is in Washington.”  Many New Age versions like to change this to read “Our Father/Mother who art in heaven.”  While there is no question that the creative principle of the Universe is both male and female, I am not sure that this is nothing but a wishful addition to the prayer in an attempt to make it politically correct.

Hallowed be thy Name.

Holy or revered is God’s name.  Without really knowing God’s name I am not sure why Jesus would tell people to say this.  Why would Jesus say that God has a real neat name-one would assume that God would know that already?

So far we have Jesus telling people that God is in heaven and has a holy name.  Not particularly powerful in its message.

Thy Kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

(Your kingdom come,

Your will be done,)

An interesting choice of words.  Does it mean that God’s Kingdom WILL come and God’s will, WILL be done?  One would suspect that Jesus would have said it that way if that is what he meant.  Is it possible that this is a command to God?  Or, is this just a statement of fact?  The Kingdom is here and God’s will is being done.

in earth as it is in Heaven.

(on earth as in Heaven.)

There is a major semantic issue in this line.  Earth would tend to imply matter or the physical if the word “in” is accurate.  The Kingdom is in matter as well as spirit and the will of God is in matter as well as spirit.  But, if the word “on” is used; a different interpretation would make more sense. The Kingdom and the will are on the planet as well as in heaven rather than in it.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive them that trespass against us.

( Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us).

What is particularly interesting here is that this is not a request, it is a command.  Give me a loaf of bread does not mean “will you please” give me a loaf of bread. “Forgive us” our errors or mistakes does not mean the same as “please forgive us.”  If this is meant to be a prayer of pleading and requesting then the choice of words is very poor.

And lead us not into temptation;

But deliver us from evil.

( Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.)

This makes no sense.  Why would a God lead a person into temptation?  Maybe if it said, “Prevent the devil from leading us into temptation” it would make a little more sense.  The implication is that God might tempt you but even so, keep us from doing anything evil.  The logic is twisted.

The end of the prayer was said to be added and is not found in any actual biblical text so we can ignore it.

Are we meant to believe that these are the great words of wisdom that Jesus told us to say?  Does this prayer really make any sense? 

LOOK AT IT A DIFFERENT WAY!

Taken at face value, the Pater noster makes little sense and does not seem like a potent prayer.  We must assume that there is more that meets the eye.  Let’s try a new interpretation and see if it makes any sense.  Keep in mind, Jesus was a mystic and was initiated into several mystical rites.

“Our Father in heaven” can best be thought of as an affirmation that the Creative force of the Universe is a state of bliss.  It is also recognition that this creative force is the parent of all and, if we reject the notion that some deranged deity kicked his children out of the of the house to ‘suffer all of the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,’ then what we are affirming is that we, as part of that creative force, are also in heav

A name is a word which is also a sound or vibration.  The Universe is vibratory and what separates, to the extent that there is a perceived separation, is its rate of vibration or frequency. Red has a different frequency than blue and yet they are both part of the light spectrum.  “Hallowed is thy name” is affirming that you understand the vibratory nature of the Universe and that you are an integral part of it.

“Thy kingdom come” is another affirmation stating that you understand that the kingdom of heaven, this state of bliss is here now. Time does not exist in spirit and we have all heard that there is only the now. The kingdom is here now, not at some future time.

“Thy will is done” is a statement of fact.  It is neither pleading that the WILL of the Universe be done nor does it put it off to some future date.  The will of the Universe is done and, contrary to appearances, it is omnipresent and imminent in all things and events.  There is no maybe here.  It is not ambiguous.  At all times, the will of the Universe is manifest.  We may not see it or understand it, but it is always there.  Even what we ‘judge’ to be contrary to the will of the Universe is an error in thinking.

“In earth as it is in heaven” reaffirms that mystical concept of ‘as above, so below.’ What is fixed in spirit is fixed on the material plane.  All that exists arises from spirit and made manifest on the physical.  There is no place that spirit is not and there is truly no real separation between the two; it is the grand illusion.

“Give us this day our daily bread” is a basic command.  It tells the Universe to manifest that which we need and desire, BOTH physically and spiritually.  Those who have followed THE SECRET have heard the words, “my wish is the Universe’s command.  If you do not tell the Universe what you want, it will not manifest. In my book, JESUS TAUGHT IT, TOO: THE EARLY ROOTS OF THE LAW OF ATTRACTION, it is made clear by Jesus that we must state our intent if we are to receive.

“Forgive us our trespasses (sins, debts)” and those who have done so to us is another affirmation.  The Universe, contrary to religious dogma, does not hold a grudge and does not judge your actions.  Our mistakes and those of others are wiped clean.  The prayer does not say “please forgive us,” but rather states the fact that all supposed errors are, in fact, forgotten.  Remember, there is no real sin.  Sin means to ‘miss the mark’ and that is okay, particularly if we learn from the so called mistake.  One could, however, argue that once you know better, committing the same error sets up a karmic situation that will continue to repeat until we stop our silliness.

“Lead us not into temptation” seems very ridiculous at face value.  Why would a God purposely lead you into error or temptation?  The best analysis here is, once again, a command to the Universe to always guide in the ways of the Light and truth.  This is made evident when you add, “But deliver us from evil.”  Evil in this context is not the mythical temptations of some demon being that only some sick God would create.  If you think of ‘evil’ as ignorance, then the phrase makes sense. “Keep us from erroneous thinking by eliminating our ignorance.  Once again, there is no wishful thinking, pleading or begging in these words.

With these thoughts in your mind, the Lord’s Prayer takes on new meaning and purpose. It becomes an affirmation of the beauty and nature of the Universe and clearly state’s your desire to be free of the chains of illusion.

Perhaps it could be said in the following manner:

We, who are now in heaven, live and breathe and have our existence in the sea of sacred vibration.

The kingdom of the Universe is here now and the Will of the Universe is ever present in both spirit and matter.

The Universe provides for all of our wants and desires and understands that our experiences will enable us to grow in wisdom as we freely choose to neither condemn nor judge our actions or those of others.

We are freed form the bonds and illusion of ignorance and are lead into the light by the very nature of our true being.

This is just one way of stating the inner meaning of this sacred prayer.  It is hoped that you will find those words that speak to your soul.  Even if you fell that you must use the original text, your inner intentions that are behind those words will give new power to a prayer that is often recited with little or no thought to its deeper meaning.