At St. Thomas in Dubois, we say “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” It is, by the way, the oldest congregation in Dubois, established in 1901 by the Episcopal priest who came to the area as a missionary to the Native Americans.
Get the chuckle?
But is it really any wonder? The most important property in New York City is money. The most important property in Wyoming is property.
What a pity that both versions of the prayer seem to reduce God almighty to the role of a mediator in property disputes.
I much prefer the version I learned as a child in Iowa (shall we call that the middle ground?): Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
That’s more open to self-interpretation than the other versions, it seems to me. Less politically or theologically correct, perhaps, but much more clear.
We don’t all trespass. We’re not all in debt. But we’re all sinners, and we all need to forgive each other for something.
Amen.
© Lois Wingerson, 2016
You can see Living Dubois in your email every week! Sign up at the upper right.
How perceptive you are!! I’m sure you gave the Lord a good chuckle!!