Gimme, gimme, gimme !

     Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!  How would you respond to that kind of request? Sounds like a child doesn't it? So perhaps it's not a demand of God but a request. And that request rather than say 'give me" ( or gimme ), we should pray give us, as in all of us. So, please God, take care of all of us. Yes, I think that is closer to the intent.

     It would seem frightfully wrong for me to be taken care of and to think that "I" have been taken care, screw every one else that needs anything. That might be the platform or philosophy of a political party but it is not the Christian way, it is not God's way. It certainly isn't what we are saying when we pray the Lord's prayer.

     The paradigm we use as Christians, the paradigm most religions use, is not the worldly one of money. We do not seek out wealth which in the end buys you nothing anyway.  If we have wealth we are called to use it as a means of love, of helping others. But we do not seek wealth for wealth's sake, we do not pray for, or seek, 'things'.

      We ask humbly for God to take care of us. To recognize the abundance God has already graced our lives with and ask for what we need and that everyone else gets what they need too. 'Give us' translates to take care of us, keep us in your protection. It is an acknowledgement that we are supported by God. Every breath we take is contingent on God's love. 'Give us' is asking for an opportunity to say thank you with the graciousness of your love to us.

  

Our Father in heaven,
   hallowed be your name. 

Your kingdom come.
   Your will be done,
     on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our debts,
     as we also have forgiven our debtors. 
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
     but rescue us from the evil one.