Lesson for the catechist

It's been almost forty years since I last made a systematic study of the Lord's Prayer -- it was in fourth or fifth grade -- so I am not surprised when I learn something new about it.

This morning, I learned that "on earth as it is in heaven" can be understood to apply to all of the first three petitions:

1. Hallowed be Thy Name, on earth as it is in heaven.
2. Thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.
3. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Makes sense, once it's pointed out.

For that matter, given the pauses used when reciting this prayer, I suppose we're lucky to regard "Thy will be done" and "on earth as it is in heaven" being one continuous thought. (Similarly with "And forgive us our trespasses" and "as we forgive those who trespass against us." Am I the only one who sometimes feels we pause just a little longer than strictly necessary between those two phrases, as though to keep them from being too closely associated?)

(While I'm kvetching, do people really not know to put an "Amen" at the end, just because it's not done at Mass?)

Labels: RCIA

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