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When his disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, what Jesus gave the disciples was not just a single prayer but a set of guidelines for prayer itself. He was teaching them – and us – how to live a life of prayer formed by faith, hope and love, aligned with God’s desire for our own flourishing and a world full of justice.
In addition to reading the Scripture texts, material will be provided (audio recordings, readings and questions) to help participants reflect on the meaning and significance of the Lord’s Prayer.
Week 1 - Exploring the Our Father
The Our Father sums up the way Jesus understood his own vocation and mission and invited his followers to share it. This session looks at the outline and structure of the Our Father and compares and contrasts it with what we know about prayer in first century Judaism.
Week 2 - Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done
In Matthew’s version the Our Father is clearly divided into two parts. The first part is concerned with the name, reign and will of God. We could say it is about God’s concerns. In this session we focus on the first three petitions: Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done.
Week 3 - Give us this day our daily bread
The Our Father is primarily a prayer for Jesus’ group of disciples. This is especially clear in the fourth petition, the plea for daily bread. In this session we focus on what is meant by “daily bread”. This petition may also shed light on the original context of the Our Father.
Week 4 - Forgive us our trespasses
At the very heart of Jesus’ teaching is forgiveness. This is how we are drawn into the kingdom of God and into the power of Jesus – he forgives our sins. In this petition we pray for the grace to forgive others as we have been forgiven - one of the most challenging elements in the whole spiritual life.
Week 5 - Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
“Lead us not into temptation” or perhaps better “Do not bring us to the time of trial” reflects the classic request of a trusting pilgrim to a respected guide. The petition for protection from evil, or the evil one, is a cry from the heart in every age.
Introductory Reading
The text of the Our Father in the Gospel of Matthew & Luke
For those who wish to read further:
Jose Pagola, “The Prayer of Jesus”. Jesus, An Historical Approximation, Third Printing, Convivium Press, Miami, Florida, 2012, 313-316.
Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, “The Lord’s Prayer”. Jesus of Nazareth, From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration, Bloomsbury, London 2007,128-168.
Brian Purfield, Jewish Prayer at the Time of Jesus, Notes for Private Use, London Jesuit Centre, May 2025.
Questions for reflection
1. Why did you choose to sign up for this course?
2. What do you hope to gain from your study of &reflection on the Our Father?
3. How did I learn how to pray?
4. When did I learn to pray the Our Father? Who taught me?
5. What phrase in the Lord’s Prayer resonates most with you?
Introductory Reading
John Ashton, “Our Father”. The Way18 (1978) 83-91.
For those who wish to read further
Daniel J. Harrington SJ, Sacra Pagina: The Gospel of Matthew, Liturgical Press, Collegeville Minnesota, 2007,93-99.
David Wenham, “The Sevenfold Form of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew’s Gospel”. The Expository Times 121 (8) 2010,377-382.
“The Lord’s Prayer” in The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, rev. ed. 2000, nos. 2759-2827.
Questions for Reflection
1. What do the first three petitions of the Lord’s Prayer mean to me when I pray them?
2. “Hallowed be your name” - Where have I witnessed the mighty deeds of the Lord?
3. “Your kingdom come” – In what way is the reign of God embodied in Jesus my rule of life?
4. “Your will be done” – How do you understand this phrase?
5. What are your reflections on Eph 1:3-11?
Introductory Reading
Living Space, Commentary on Mt 6:7-15. Living Space is part of Sacred Space www.sacredspace.ie the prayer site run by the Irish Jesuits.
Brendan Byrne SJ, Lifting the Burden. Reading Matthew’s Gospel in the Church Today. Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota 2004, 63-66.
Brendan Byrne SJ, The Hospitality of God. A Reading of Luke’s Gospel. Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota 2015, 118-121.
For those who wish to read further
Donald Senior, Matthew, Abingdon Press, Nashville 1998, 82-86
Kenneth E.Bailey, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, SPCK London 2008, 119-123.
“The Lord’s Prayer” in The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, rev. ed. 2000, nos. 2828-2837.
Questions for Reflection
1. How do you understand: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread?
2. What strikes you about the context of the phrase in Luke’s version of the prayer?
3. What strikes you about the context of the phrase in Matthew’s version of the prayer?
4. What are the daily cares I bring to my heavenly Father? How has he provided me with what I need to sustain me?
5. The idea of the Church as a people on pilgrimage to the promised land of heaven was a favourite one of St. Augustine. What is your image of the Church?
Introductory Reading
Denis McBride, “Prayer and Discipleship ”in The Gospel of Luke: A Reflective Commentary, Dominican Publications, Dublin 1997, 144-146.
Tom Wright, Matthew For Everyone: Part 1 Chapters 1-15, SPCK London 2004, 56-60.
Pope Francis, “Training for Giving and for Forgiveness” in Our Father: Reflections on the Lord’s Prayer, Penguin, Randon House UK 2018, 89-92.
For those who wish to read further
Megan McKenna, “Reconciliation and At-One-Ment: The Other Gifts of Forgiveness” in Matthew: The Book of Mercy, New City Press, Hyde Park, New York 2007, 104-118.
“The Lord’s Prayer” in The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, rev. ed. 2000, nos.2838-2845.
Questions for Reflection
1. In what area of my life do I stand in greatest need of God’s forgiveness?
2. What sin do you think is the hardest to forgive? Why?
3. Do you demand more from some people than others? Are there people who you consider beyond forgiveness? Why?
4. How do you think Jesus would approach people considered “public sinners” in the church today?
5. What can we do to practice reconciliation & atonement with others, without condemnation, keeping the doors open for all to return?
Introductory Reading
Gerhad Lohfink,“Desperate Cry and Confident Trust” in The Our Father: A New Reading, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota 2015, 105-107.
For those who wish to read further
“The Lord’s Prayer” in The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, rev. ed. 2000, nos. 2846-2865.
Jimmy Akin, “No, Pope Francis Is Not Changing the Lord’s Prayer” in National Catholic Register, Blog December 11, 2017.
Msgr Charles Pope, “Why I Oppose Changing the Words of the Our Father” in National Catholic Register, Blog June 11, 2019
Questions for Reflection
1. How do you understand the words: Lead Us Not Into Temptation But Deliver Us From Evil?
2. Did you find anything unexpected or surprising in this course? If so, explain what it was and why you found it that way.
3. What will you take away from this short introductory course on the Our Father?
We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to provide feedback on your experience with the course. Please complete the evaluation form here:
Evaluation Form - The Our Father
Thank you for your time and valuable input.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Brian is a tutor in the theology stream. Originally from Birmingham, Brian studied philosophy and theology at the Gregorian University, Rome and later gained a Masters Degree in Franciscan Studies from St. Bonaventure’s University, New York. He has given retreats and courses throughout the UK and Ireland, North America, the Far East and Australia. He taught at the International Franciscan Study, Canterbury and at Campion House, Osterley before joining the Mount Street Jesuit Team when it began in 2004. Brian also taught at Heythrop College on the Foundation Degree in Pastoral Ministry. His particular interest is in opening up the Scriptures to people, young and old, at a level that they can understand and seek to apply to their daily lives. Brian is married to Deborah who works for CAFOD. They live in Buckinghamshire.
