“Give us this day our
daily bread.”
This is truly a reminder of the manna in the desert. This could
also be translated “give us only for today our sustenance from heaven.” It is a
reminder of our mortality, that God never promises us tomorrow, but only today.
“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
The word “forgive”
comes from the word “give.” The word, for me, means that forgiveness amounts to
giving the same thing twice, or to giving a thing preemptively before it has been
taken from us.
In the analogy of monetary
debts, if I loaned someone an amount and they did not pay it back, then
forgiveness is like me giving them the exact same amount, a second time, as a
gift, so that they can pay me back the same amount which they had borrowed in
the first place. Thus, I for-gave by giving the same amount twice.
In terms of offenses
it means making an excuse for the offense before the offense is even done. It
is as if I take the mindset and say, prior to the offense, “you will do this to
me but it matters not.” Or, has been said in other words, “before the cock
crows you will deny me three times.” That is in anticipation of the sin, the
debt is already accounted as nothing compared to the relationship.
