Join us in meditating on the Lord's Prayer this Lent with an opening reflection by Bianca Manning on ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name’.
A transcript of Bianca Manning's reflection can be downloaded here.
In the opening of The Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6), Jesus teaches us to pray to ‘Our Father’, revealing to us the active, present and personal relationship of our creator God with us. Not just an individual relationship, but a communal and collective relationship with all. As Bianca Manning explores in today’s Lent reflection “we have been made one with Christ and joined together as the family of God”. As we join in prayer together to ‘Our Father’ we also pray “hallowed be your name”. ‘To hallow’ is to greatly revere and honour, to hold something as holy. As we pray this prayer, alongside all peoples, and all creation, we give adoration, praise and glory to God for the power that His name holds.
Read: Romans 8:14-17 and Psalm 8
Reflect: Psalm 8 provides an example of how we ‘hallow’ God’s name. How do we hold both the hallowing of God’s name together with the idea of God’s Fatherhood in Romans 8:14-17? How do the two ideas of ‘Our Father’ and ‘Hallowed be your name’ come together for you?
Pray: Pray the Lord’s prayer slowly. Breath deeply. As Bianca Manning encourages us, take time as you pray to take on a posture of deep listening and humility, dwelling on this opening phrase and hallow Our Father in heaven’s name.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Act: Bianca Manning reflects “when I rejoice, you rejoice. When I suffer, you suffer. And when my people flourish, we all flourish and heal”. How can we be taking action together to see God’s Kingdom come for the flourishing of all creation?
Bianca Manning is a Gomeroi woman and a young Aboriginal Christian Leader. Bianca is Common Grace's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Coordinator, has a Social Work degree, and works closely with Senior Aboriginal Christian Leader Aunty Jean Phillips doing ministry and service in the Brisbane and Logan areas.
In this final instalment of our Lent series, Uncle Dr Pastor Ray Minniecon discusses the concept of kingdom, reflecting that when God’s word is communicated in ways people can understand, profound truths are revealed and transformation can take place.
Aunty Sue Hodges examines the forms temptation can take in our lives, how difficult it is to forgive whilst living under systemic injustices and the freedom and comfort Jesus gives when we bring our burdens to him.
Aunty Ravina Waldren reflects on the power and importance of forgiveness in our journey of faith.
Safina Stewart reflects on 'Give us today our daily bread, contemplating God’s complete provision - how all of our needs, not just our daily bread, are met in him.