For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever Amen.
A little bit that some scribe seems to have added at the end as it is not present in what are considered the best manuscripts. Does it belong here? Probably not, but maybe!
Probably not given the MSS evidence; but maybe – this scribe added a good little finale, and I think we can add bits here and there that work for us, and focus us. Prayer is a lifestyle; prayer is relational; prayer is multi-faceted – so add a bit here and there seems well good to me. The Psalms are a great resource, but I would be pretty selective in what of that I used to pray! Too much smash the enemy (people) and their children in there to fuel prayer. Maybe read to avoid!
All prayer / stances that flow from ‘Father’… ‘our’… should determine what we add. I guess we will all add something unique. I have a zoom group coming up ere long and I will ask people to think ‘what do you that is your stance that you want to pass on / pray on to those who are present’. We all have something unique and this will affect how we pray. Variety, diversity, uniqueness.
And there will be parts we do not add to our praying. We will avoid them cos our view of God. Others might include. Revelation and conviction is what fuels us.
So the little bit extra, that seems to me to have been written in is really OK, and on the more important picture gives us permission to add as well!!
Hi Martin is the Zoom group open to anyone or is it specifically for certain people? I was in a Catholic mass and carried on with this bit which of course nobody else recited! Embarrassing – reformed protestant background that I have on display for all!!
Funnily enough I have been reading through the psalms chronologically recently and half of each seems to be about smashing evil doers etc. the other half about being helped and saved and worship etc. It’s a useful exercise though and so much of the emotion expressed in them is so relatable and even the smashing enemies bit though we know that isn’t the Jesus way, speaks to the human innate reaction to when we are hurt and threatened. A conviction to not allow these vengeful motives to takeover our hearts perhaps? Constantly being brought back to the narrow way which is so hard yet if we stray from it causes profound damage – that way being the stance of love and forgiveness primarily I think?