In this final message of our series exploring “The Lord’s Prayer,” Pastor Eric ties together the final line in the version Jesus gave us as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (“lead us not into the time of trial, but deliver us from the evil one”) with the final lines added later by the church (“for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever”). This final exploration also falls on Transfiguration Sunday—the Sunday before Lent when Jesus is revealed in all his glory, his identity made fully known to his closest disciples. As they go back down the mountain into a world of injustice, evil, and fear will they honor this truth that’s been revealed to them? Will we, like Jesus, dare to shine forth in our authentic fullness? And when others reveal their true identities to us, will we “listen to them” as the voice from heaven calls the disciples to do atop the mountain with Jesus? Will we honor their divine authenticity, even if/when we don’t fully understand it?
