In the Christian Science Bible Lesson May 30, 2011 Issue

A shining prayer of unity

For the lesson titled "God the Only Cause and Creator" from May 30–June 5, 2011

Janet Clements

Like a golden thread in a beautiful tapestry, the Lord’s Prayer is woven through this week’s Bible Lesson, titled “God the Only Cause and Creator.” The prayer’s eight lines of inspiration, coupled with Mary Baker Eddy’s spiritual interpretation, are shown to bring healing comfort that “covers all human needs” (Science and Health, p. 16, citation 4). The Lord’s Prayer teaches that God alone is the Creator and Cause of all. Jesus prefaced the Lord’s Prayer with the words “After this manner,” making it clear that this was a model for prayer (Matt. 6:9–13, Responsive Reading). It calls for a spirit of unity and fellowship. We are to pray for all the dear children of God. It’s unselfed—using the terms “our” and “us,” not “me” and “mine”—and it’s universal in its affirmations and petitions.

The four affirmations include one Father-Mother as the Creator of all, the divine nature of God, the kingdom of God, and the all-encompassing divine will or cause. Then follow the petitions for bread, forgiveness, guidance, and deliverance, with a final summarizing affirmation. One might say that the Lord’s Prayer illustrates the coincidence of the divine and the human, the action of God embracing us as a tender Father-Mother starting right from the Golden Text, which invites us to acknowledge God as the origin of us all.

In Section III, we see that the Father-Mother, Mind, is not the creator of matter (see Science and Health, p. 257, cit. 12). In Section IV, the nourishing and preserving aspect of Father-Mother is taken further (see p. 530, cit. 17). And in Section V, the Father-Mother embraces all creation in a universal family (see p. 469, cit. 23).