Our Father, who art in heaven, we
recognize:
OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN
HEAVEN, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THOU ART ALL HOLY
AND LOVING AND MERCIFUL, AND THAT WE ARE THY
CHILDREN, AND NOT THE SUBSERVIENT, SINFUL
AND DEPRAVED CREATURES THAT OUR FALSE
TEACHERS WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE. THAT WE ARE
THE GREATEST OF THY CREATIONS, AND THE MOST
WONDERFUL OF ALL THY HANDIWORKS, AND THE
OBJECTS OF THY GREAT SOUL'S LOVE AND
TENDEREST CARE.
THAT THY WILL IS THAT WE BECOME AT-ONE WITH
THEE AND PARTAKE OF THY GREAT LOVE WHICH
THOU HAST BESTOWED UPON US THROUGH THY MERCY
AND DESIRE THAT WE BECOME, IN TRUTH, THY
CHILDREN THROUGH LOVE, AND NOT THROUGH THE
SACRIFICE AND DEATH OF ANY OF THY CREATURES.
WE PRAY THAT THOU WILL OPEN UP OUR SOULS TO
THE INFLOWING OF THY LOVE, AND THAT THEN
WILL COME THY HOLY SPIRIT TO BRING INTO OUR
SOULS THIS, THY DIVINE LOVE, IN GREAT
ABUNDANCE, UNTIL OUR SOULS SHALL BE
TRANSFORMED INTO THE VERY ESSENCE OF
THYSELF; AND THAT THERE WILL COME TO US
FAITH—SUCH FAITH AS WILL CAUSE US TO REALIZE
THAT WE ARE TRULY THY CHILDREN AND ONE WITH
THEE IN VERY SUBSTANCE, AND NOT IN IMAGE
ONLY.
LET US HAVE SUCH FAITH AS WILL CAUSE US TO
KNOW THAT THOU ART OUR FATHER, AND THE
BESTOWER OF EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT, AND
THAT ONLY WE, OURSELVES, CAN PREVENT THY
LOVE CHANGING US FROM THE MORTAL INTO THE
IMMORTAL.
LET US NEVER CEASE TO REALIZE THAT THY LOVE
IS WAITING FOR EACH AND ALL OF US, AND, THAT
WHEN WE COME TO THEE IN FAITH AND EARNEST
ASPIRATION, THY LOVE WILL NEVER BE
WITHHOLDEN FROM US.
KEEP US IN THE SHADOW OF THY LOVE EVERY HOUR
AND MOMENT OF OUR LIVES, AND HELP US TO
OVERCOME ALL TEMPTATIONS OF THE FLESH, AND
THE INFLUENCE OF THE POWERS OF THE EVIL ONES
WHO SO CONSTANTLY SURROUND US AND ENDEAVOR
TO TURN OUR THOUGHTS AWAY FROM THEE TO THE
PLEASURES AND ALLUREMENTS OF THIS WORLD.
WE THANK THEE FOR THY LOVE AND THE PRIVILEGE
OF RECEIVING IT, AND WE BELIEVE THAT THOU
ART OUR FATHER—THE LOVING FATHER WHO SMILES
UPON US IN OUR WEAKNESS, AND IS ALWAYS READY
TO HELP US AND TAKE US TO THY ARMS OF LOVE.
WE PRAY THUS WITH ALL THE EARNESTNESS AND
SINCERE LONGINGS OF OUR SOULS, AND, TRUSTING
IN THY LOVE, GIVE THEE ALL THE GLORY AND
HONOR AND LOVE THAT OUR FINITE SOULS CAN
GIVE.
Amen. |