Sunday Reflection: New words for an old prayer

Today's reflection is brought to you by

Matthew 6:9-13. 

I like that Jesus taught his disciples -- and us -- how to talk to God (pray) in the gospels. But I wonder what words he might choose in this day and age. After all, the translation of his Aramaic over the centuries, and the more recent human shift in understanding God as more than male or female both leave me wishing he'd show up and offer us new words for his prayer. 

Not that I have problems with God as Father, but I like God as Mother, Lover, Tender, and many other descriptions as well. What Would Jesus Do?

I've already posted a newer version of the Creed from my first experience at ICPM some years ago, and now I'd like to share a version of Jesus' prayer that I think he would like, one that applies to us all no matter how we believe. It's written by Miriam Therese Winter, a Medical Mission Sister (who wrote Joy is Like the Rain, which for me represents the joyful inclusion of guitars in church music). Her version of the prayer is beautiful, especially when juxtaposed with the original found in Matthew 6: 9-13:

O Holy One, who is within,                        Our Father in heaven,

we celebrate your many names.                 hallowed be your name.

Your wisdom come.                                     Your kingdom come,

Your will be done,                                       your will be done,

unfolding from the depths within us.          on earth as it is in heaven.

Each day you give us all that we need.      Give us this day our daily bread,

You remind us of our limits,                        and forgive us our debts,

and we let go.                                              as we also have forgiven our debtors.

You support us in our power,                      And lead us not into temptation,

and we act with courage.                            but deliver us from evil.                      

For you are the dwelling place within us,  For yours is the kingdom, 

the empowerment around us,                     the power, 

and the celebration among us,                   and the glory, 

now and forever.                                         now and forever.

Of course, the newer words will never hold the familiar comfort of the traditional prayer for most people, but it's a beautiful broadening of Jesus' words for modern minds. It excludes no one, reminds us that God is already more present with us than we often think, and still holds the same basic meaning: that we are meant to talk directly to God, and that God loves us and looks after us.

What more do we need?