The Revolution at the Heart of the Lord’s Prayer

Rev. Erik Swanson
July 27, 2025

Over the last several sermons, I’ve been speaking pretty openly about what’s happening in our country and our local community — issues like ICE deportations, the current administration’s actions, systemic racism, the genocide in Palestine, and my deep concern for the LGBTQ+ community. Some people may feel like these reflections come from a personal agenda, or that they’re just “progressive” politics removed from scripture. I want to be clear: everything I say from the pulpit is grounded in scripture. I don’t preach without it. And every time I open the Bible, I’m struck by how deeply relevant it still is — how clearly it speaks to today’s events, fears, and hopes. Sometimes it’s almost eerie how perfectly it aligns with what we’re facing right now.

The Lord’s Prayer: It’s Revolutionary

Let’s study Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer from Luke 11:1-8. Many of us say this prayer regularly, sometimes without really thinking about what it means. Years ago, a beloved member of our congregation, Don Stephens, told me he didn’t like the Lord’s Prayer because it had become meaningless through repetition. I challenged him, as I challenge us all today: this prayer is revolutionary. It’s a blueprint for a transformed world—if we’re willing to see it that way.

Persistent Prayer Changes Us

The parable that follows Jesus explaining how to pray — about a friend knocking on a door — teaches us to persevere in prayer. Not because we’re trying to wear God down, but because persistent prayer changes us. As we keep praying, we dig deeper into our own longings, we uncover the roots of what we’re really seeking, and we draw closer to the Spirit. The prayer becomes a form of communion, not just a request list.

Honor the Holiness of God

Each line of the Lord’s Prayer is radical. “Holy be your name” calls us to reverence — not to use God’s name casually or as a justification for harmful behavior, but to truly honor the holiness of God in how we live. It demands that we — and the church — stop using God as a shield for injustice.

Our Allegiance to a Divine Way of Being

“May your kingdom come” is even more rebellious. It calls our allegiance away from worldly powers and toward a divine way of being — a system built on compassion, justice, and equity. It’s not about the afterlife; it’s about transforming this world now.

Challenging our Culture of Excess

“Give us each day our daily bread” challenges our culture of excess. In a country — and a valley — full of wealth, this is a radical prayer to live with just enough, trusting that there’s enough for all. Our issue isn’t scarcity; it’s distribution. The hoarding of resources keeps others in need. If we lived this line of the prayer fully, billionaires really would lose sleep.

Forgiving Starts with Us

And finally, “forgive us our sins as we forgive” teaches us that the first step is ours. We are to forgive before we’re forgiven. This flips so many of our natural instincts and asks us to lead with grace and generosity — not just individually, but as a nation and a community.

A Prayer That Can Change the World

So pray this prayer with new eyes. You don’t have to like it. In fact, if it makes you uncomfortable, that’s a great place to start. This is a prayer that could change the world — and us — if we let it. Amen.