LEAD US, LORD
“And lead us not into temptation.” These words in ‘The Our Father’ never seem to speak clearly to me, as though I am missing something, probably missing exactly what was intended for us by Jesus.
As a child, it was easy to assume that someday, after I grow up and know more about life, it will clear up.
But, when you get into your 70’s, you can’t fog the issue that way anymore.
So I’ve taken to punctuating the phrase my own way, meanwhile adding a meta-prayer, an inchoate plea that I am not distorting or vitiating the prayer as intended and given by Our Lord as I say it.
I say it thus: “Lead us — not into temptation.” Just a slight pause makes a subtlely meaningful difference.
Seems like a terrific supplication: Lead us! Lead us, Lord!
And oh yes — not into temptation! Anything but that!
But how I pray that You lead us!
And may we someday learn to follow You better!
Oh goodie! I’m not the only one who adds this pause! Of course, we know it’s our asking not to be put to the test, but on the other hand, Christ was “tempted” in the desert; there’s no other word for it, so we live with it.. but indeed, how to explain to anyone that the phrase doesn’t mean God may set us up to teach us a lesson?
Furthermore, the afterthought occurs to me, when we pray “as we forgive those who trespass against us,” might we not chose to include those who trespass against an “Us” consisting of both ourselves AND Father God — those sinners who offend Him, and/or his children.