Is it possible that we could all agree to the "Our Father"

[Timothy17]

If I am not mistaken some Christians use the following Jewish prayer in their services. This would appear to me the closest thing to an “agreed” on prayer:

Numbers (Bamidbar) 6: 24-26

כד יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה, וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ. {ס} 24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee; {S}
כה יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וִיחֻנֶּךָּ. {ס} 25 The LORD make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; {S}
כו יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם. {ס} 26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. {S}

I have heard this prayer refered to as the priestly prayer ; however, whether that’s a Jewish, generic Christian or Catholic “thing” I do not know. It’s a beautiful prayer though. Though it is, of course, properly a blessing ; the Our Father, a prayer. The Beatitudes or the Sermon on the Mount, the context in which the Our Father is given, however, bears a striking resemblence in tone or topic (my words fail me) to this prayer. The simple message, ‘be like unto God ; and be blessed,’ seems to be the nutshell of it, as it were.

Pax Christi,
Tim

 

[brumano]

I was wondering, is it possible that all faiths that believe in one God as a creator could agree to what we refer to as “The Lord’s Prayer or Our Father”?

Because…

1. We pray to our Father in Heaven
2. We keep His name holy
3. We desire for His kingdom
4. We desire for His Will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven
5. We ask for our daily needs
6. We seek His forgiveness
7. We forgive others
8. We ask for protection against temptations
9. We ask that He keep us from evil.
10. And then we say “For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, now and forever”

Just thinking, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could find some common ground in prayer and pray this together daily for the whole world?

I am certainly not a scholar of other faiths, I am just wondering what kind of world I live in and what are we capable of, if we stop for a moment and try.

Peace

They can all truly pray it whether or not they all truly believe it, as to why anyone possibly would decline to pray it I can’t imagine, but as we all know God remains their Father as well as ours at all times.

 

[His_little1]

I think TimothyH said it best. I think “Lord, have mercy” could be something anyone could pray, and I think God would appreciate that we need His mercy. We need Him.

But, would any other faith be open to this sort of prayer?

Thank you TimothyH !!!

 

[dzheremi]

Please listen to this sermon by Fr. Paul Guirgis on the “Our Father”, which explains why it is NOT okay for non-Christians to pray the “Our Father”.

 

[brumano]

I think TimothyH said it best. I think “Lord, have mercy” could be something anyone could pray, and I think God would appreciate that we need His mercy. We need Him.

But, would any other faith be open to this sort of prayer?

Thank you TimothyH !!!

Again, a timeless universally perfect prayer that God has given to all of His children for them to have to pray, you are so right we need His Mercy but all too often we let our pride get in the way.

I would put my answer to this question this way, there is no human being who ever lived who can escape or remain closed to this prayer, there’s just no way.

 

[JoshuaNY]

I agree with the OP but I beleive it is more complicated then what was original said. Some Christian denominations beleive Jesus meant this prayer as a model and we should all pray like that. However, these are also the same denominations who beleive the Eucharist is a symbol and not the Real Presence. Like I said, unfortunately for Unification purposes more complicated then agreeing with a prayer.

 

[brumano]

I agree with the OP but I beleive it is more complicated then what was original said. Some Christian denominations beleive Jesus meant this prayer as a model and we should all pray like that. However, these are also the same denominations who beleive the Eucharist is a symbol and not the Real Presence. Like I said, unfortunately for Unification purposes more complicated then agreeing with a prayer.

Keep in mind that in the chronology of the Gospel the Our Father is given prior to the giving of the Holy Eucharist, as I’m pretty sure you’re contemplating “give us this day our daily bread” if other denominations don’t understand this as the Eucharist then they just can’t receive this; that’s pretty much all there is to that, but the prayer unifies not only all Christians but all human beings universally because all are created by one Father and all do have the same essential needs and all are totally dependent upon Him. For example if we move on in the prayer '…and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…" well, what human has never trespassed against God, been trespassed against, or trespassed against someone else? Us Catholics are’nt the only humans who sin, are we? So, we are all unified in trespassing and being in need of God’s forgiveness, and the ending of the prayer unifies all mankind as well because we all (all, all, all!) want God to lead us not into temptation, but to deliver us from evil.

 

[meltzerboy]

Whoa, whoa, I wasn’t trying to start any fights here. My point was as a Catholic-Christian, I wondered if it was possible for two or more people, from different faiths to pray in a way that would not only please God, but find some common…I’ll use the term friendship. After all, are we not all God’s children?

I haven’t figured out how to pull the quotes out of other responses, so I’ll try to address them as best as I can…

Yes, adding the 10th point “for the kingdom, the power,…” was added for the benefit of other denominations. I know it is separate in the Mass.

I’m not trying to be anti-Catholic in any way by trying to include others. As a matter of fact, I understood that to be a peacemaker was to be living the beattitudes.

It occurred to me on the day that we celebrate the “Chair of Peter” that the world is still too diverse most of the time. How is it that after all Jesus did for the salvation of the world, the world still is so divided? ( I know, sin, evil, the devil trying to mess things up)

I guess in the back of my mind at the time I first posted I was thinking, “If we could all pray together,somehow, truly desiring to give glory to God, asking for and giving forgiveness, having our daily needs, and avoiding evil, wouldn’t the world get a little better?”

Are not the two greatest commandments to Love God with your whole being and love your neighbor?

Have you ever been to a Catholic Wedding or Funeral, and when it comes time for the Lord’s Prayer, someone in the congregation “keeps going” and then silently trails off?
Now, at that point, what is your reaction (if you’re Catholic)? Do you feel uneasy, sorry for the guy, mad? Or do you somehow want to show charity or compassion for the person?

I want that person to feel welcome in the Catholic church.

I know what we have is precious, in spirit, in truth, in history, in tradition. I also understand that some of the world has forgotten what the Catholic church has contributed to the whole of Christianity. Did I mention that I’m a Cradle-Catholic, fifth generation still serving in my parish…

I didn’t want to start something bad. I wondered if I could start something good.

I didn’t say it would happen. I just wondered if it was possible.

Obviously from the bitter comments, I got my answer…for now. No harm, splinters from the Cross…

Peace anyway!

I think that what you’re doing is wonderful even if some members of your faith and mine may object to what they call “false ecumenism.” I don’t believe that seeking mutual understanding, wisdom, respect, and love is ever a bad thing and, on the contrary, is something this world can use more of, not less. And, as for Judaism’s objection to the prayer, only some of the hardliners might object for reasons known only to themselves.

 

[cyberwolf001]

Wont work as some faiths do not acknowledge the Christian god.