Old things in New Ways
How many times a day do you say The Lord’s Prayer?
Washing our hands is a feature of life-in-lockdown and it’s great that it’s been suggested we say the Lord’s Prayer as we do so, to make sure we lather and scrub for the correct length of time. (Others recommend singing Happy Birthday or even the modern children’s song Baby Shark to give the same timing.) So, I am probably saying the Lord’s Prayer more often these days!
As Christians, we know the words of the Lord’s Prayer so well, that there is a danger of repeating them on automatic pilot. When I am conducting a funeral, however, I ask that the words of the prayer be printed in full on the service sheet, as this familiarity is by no means universal in our society, and anyway, even the best of us can be thrown by the modern, compared to the traditional version. But the words “Our Father….” Undoubtedly prompt us to prayer, and this is the prayer that unites all Christians across the world, the family prayer of the Church.
I was interested then to receive an email from a friend last week, pointing me to an alternative translation, apparently from the ancient Aramaic language, which would have been Jesus’ own language.
Here is what she sent me from a Facebook post of Cynthia Bourgeault.
O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos,
Focus your light within us - make it useful:
Create your reign of unity now -
Your one desire then acts with ours,
as in all light, so in all forms.
Grant what we need each day in bread and insight.
Loose the cords of mistakes binding us,
as we release the strands we hold of others' guilt.
Don't let surface things delude us,
But free us from what holds us back.
From you is born all ruling will, the power and the life to do,
the song that beautifies all, from age to age it renews.
Truly—power to these statements —
may they be the ground from which all my actions grow: Amen.
This set me off on a bit of an exploration on Google – and I discovered more ‘alternative translations’. This was not an academic exploration, and I confess my Aramaic is a little rusty (!) so I cannot comment on the accuracy of any of them. However, I commend this exercise to you as a source of interest and perhaps inspiration for these strange days. A new way of looking at the familiar is never a bad thing.
This offered by L Fellows.
O Thou, the breath, the Light of All
Let this light create a heart-shrine within.
And your counsel rule until the Oneness guides all
Your one desire then acts with ours, as in all light, so in all forms.
Grant what we need each day, in bread and insight.
Loose the cords of mistakes binding us,
As we release the strands we hold of other’s faults.
Don’t let surface things delude us.
But keep us from unripe acts.
To you belongs the ruling mind, the life that can act and do
The song that beautifies all, From age to age it renews
In faith, I will be true.
This from the New Zealand Anglican Prayer Book
Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven.
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory and power that is love,
now and forever. Amen.
This quoted by Eva Fogarasi Bálint: -
"Oh Thou, from whom the breath of life comes,
who fills all realms of sound, light and vibration.
May Your light be experienced in my utmost holiest.
Your Heavenly Domain approaches.
Let Your will come true - in the universe (all that vibrates)
just as on earth (that is material and dense).
Give us wisdom (understanding, assistance) for our daily need,
detach the fetters of faults that bind us, (karma)
like we let go the guilt of others.
Let us not be lost in superficial things (materialism, common temptations),
but let us be freed from that what keeps us off from our true purpose.
From You comes the all-working will, the lively strength to act,
the song that beautifies all and renews itself from age to age. Amen
And here, finally is an idea of what the original would have sounded like: - The Prayer to Our Father (Aramaic)
Abwûn
d'bwaschmâja
Nethkâdasch schmach
Têtê malkuthach.
Nehwê tzevjânach aikâna d'bwaschmâja af b'arha.
Hawvlân lachma d'sûnkanân jaomâna.
Waschboklân chaubên wachtahên aikâna
daf chnân schwoken l'chaijabên.
Wela tachlân l'nesjuna
ela patzân min bischa.
Metol dilachie malkutha wahaila wateschbuchta l'ahlâm almîn.
Amên.
Ren