This does not at all take away from the truth proclaimed in today’s message. There will be times of trial for those who follow Jesus. I sometimes call it the fine print at the bottom of the imaginary contract. Those who follow Jesus will be scorned because Jesus was scorned along with being crucified. We, who are connected to him through the waters of Baptism, can expect no less than what Jesus experienced.

The issue comes with how it is we translate this petition of the Lord’s prayer. Are we asking specifically to be spared from these times of trial or are we asking that we may remain faithful when these times of trial occur? In all actuality, the answer is “Yes” to both. No matter how the petition is translated, we are mindful of both concerns. We do not desire ourselves or anyone to experience times of trial, and we especially do not want anyone’s faith, including our own, to fail because of such trials.

This is what Luther emphasized in his explanation of this petition in the Small Catechism, quoted on page 101. “We ask in this prayer that God would preserve and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice, and that, although we may be attacked by them, we may finally prevail and gain the victory.”

So, yes, we are praying that we do not experience the trials and tragedies of life, but more so we are asking that God help us during them so that we are not tempted into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. We all know, when the chips are down it can be a great temptation to run away from God rather than to wait expectantly for God’s activity. I guess I share these thoughts because I don’t want to lose that emphasis in this petition. I think it is important that we not forget WHY we are asking to be saved from the time of trial. We ask this so that we are not led into temptation.

The hope in within these temptation is not found in how well we are able overcome them by ourselves. Yes, Jesus, is a model here, but our hope is not found in that. Our hope is only found in the one who was able to overcome these temptations. Our hope is found in the fact that we are baptized into him. Our hope rests on the fact that Jesus, who was able to resist all temptations, even at the weakest moments of his life, has saved us by his death and resurrection. With Christ, the power of sin and death has been overcome. Only with Christ are we truly free.

I liked the author’s emphasis today that the Lord’s Prayer is for ordinary people, but I want to add this thought. IF there is such a thing as being a spiritual athlete, then the true athletes are not like the Pharisees, full of pride over how they have proven their faith. If anything, these athletes become more and more aware of the acuteness of temptation and their own failings. They become more and more aware of how they mindlessly wander into the park that they don’t want to be in. Of all people, the athletes should be the most humble in the face of temptation because the lies of conquering temptation, or being saved from the time of trial on our own have been stripped away. If anything, they should be the most aware of grace.

The opposite it true as well. The plural pronoun within this petition reminds me that at those moments when I am appalled by someone else’s sin, I need to remember my own constant struggles with temptation. I may not have done X,Y, or Z, but I have certainly done A, B, C, D, E, and many others. This knowledge quickly reduces the severity of the judgment I’m tempted to render, which, obviously, is yet another temptation. All of us need help with being led away from temptation. How wonderful it is that Jesus never stops offering that help.

I find it interesting that even though I get it now, that the translation I grew up with doesn’t adequately reflect the true meaning of the petition, I’m still not comfortable with one of the realities that this petition recognizes, that being: God created a world in which temptation exists. Theologically I know that in order to have complete freedom, we need the opportunity to choose. And I am more than astounded by the unfathomable love of God who needed to put that freedom into creation so that we would be free to love in return. But, as I, along with the rest of humanity, struggle daily with the myriad of temptations that confront me, it sometimes frustrates me that this needs to be a part of life. Yeah, I know the whole “opportunity for growth” thing, and the “throws me into the arms of his grace” thing, but sometimes it would be nice not to have to struggle with it at all. I know that day is coming, and I look forward to it. Meanwhile, it is good to pray regularly “that, although we may be attacked by [these temptations at all times], we may finally prevail and gain the victory,” through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

So, what does the younger son do once the sphere of forgiveness was created by the father? Does he walk into that sphere or run away from it? We know that he walks into it, savoring the freedom and the joy that it contains. For him it meant a robe and a ring and sandals on his feet. It also meant being the toast of the party of the decade.

The father created a sphere of forgiveness for the older son as well, but we leave the story wondering if the son will enter it. We can take comfort in the fact that we know we certainly would enter it.

The author writes: “Everyone who truly breathes the air of God’s mercy, forgives even as they have been forgiven.” Maybe that was the problem for the older son. He knew that by accepting the father’s forgiveness that he too would have to forgive his younger brother. In other words, by going into the party, the older brother would feel the need to forgive his brother, and maybe he didn’t want to feel that need. Foolishly, he was tempted to hold onto the grudge and stay away from the party of the decade. What fun is that? It is kind of like choosing to die alone, filled with anger, hatred and fear rather than within the comfort of God’s loving arms, as the one criminal did who didn’t ask to be with Jesus. What kind of choice is that?

By going out to the older son while he is throwing his hissy fit, the father is forgiving him too. Just as he could have left the younger son by the side of the road, broken and devastated by not forgiving him, so too the father could have left the older son to stew in his resentments.

And the pleading of the father is also noteworthy. He wants this son, who was acting like a slave, to drop the role and enjoy life as a son; to quit pretending that he is something that he is not. Ultimately he is pleading with his older son to engage in the same forgiveness that the father engages in; to enjoy the thrill of life without the cloud of resentment.

Why should the older son forgive as the father forgives? He won’t enjoy the party if he can’t let go. He can’t savor the God-given goodness of life if he can’t let go of this grudge he has against his younger brother. The father pleads with him to forgive his brother and enjoy the party because life is too short to do otherwise.

(I really love this parable!)

“Forgiveness undermines the foundation of the old world and brings into being a new community.”

“Like bread, [forgiveness] is given to be shared.”

“Sharing can never diminish love or forgiveness.”

Excellent and eye-opening quotes within today’s reading. We are given forgiveness in the same way we are given bread. It is given abundantly and it is given with the intention that it be shared. And, just like sharing bread brings to an end a world that runs on the assumption that you get what you deserve, so to does the sharing of forgiveness bring to an end a world that that runs on the assumption of an eye for an eye.

Again, this concern is not meant to minimize the importance of being forgiving. Relationships matter to God. If God is love, (which 1John 4 makes very clear), than God can have it no other way, because love is all about relationships. The forgiveness we offer is born out of holy concern for relationship. I really like the Gandhi quote and the Theological Thought for today. I have one to add to it. In a book I read recently the main character needed to keep saying to himself, “It is more important to be loving than to be right.” Our society today could use a little more of that, especially in the political realm.

I’m interested in your thoughts about this. You don’t need to feel shy about adding your comments. What do you think about today’s meditation?