Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name
your kingdom come

your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

What does this mean?

[Robert E. Smith translation, 1994] Truly, God's good and gracious will is accomplished without our prayer. But we pray in this request that it be accomplished among us as well.

How does this happen?

[Robert E. Smith translation, 1994] When God destroys and interferes with every evil will and all evil advice, which will not allow God's Kingdom to come, such as the Devil's will, the world's will and will of our bodily desires. It also happens when God strengthens us by faith and by the Word and keeps us living by them faithfully until the end of our lives. This is God's will, good and full of grace.

In terms of the big picture (in the cosmic scope of things, in the sweep of history) God’s will is always done. Truly, God is in charge of the universe. However, in the short term, there is evil. There is resistance. There is spiritual entropy, the downward, regressive spiraling into darkness so common in humanity. It is important to recognize the presence and malevolent intent of evil. We suffer from more than merely a failure of “good will.” We become enslaved to powers greater than ourselves that will destroy us.

And so we need God’s Word, the Living Word that speaks to us powerfully in our liturgical gatherings of Word and Sacrament. Week after week, year after year, the solemn assembly of the saints is the Spirit’s way of break the stranglehold of devious evil. When the going gets tough, we need to be with the saints. When we are ready to throw in the towel, full of despair and hopelessness, then pray for the Good Shepherd to lead us again into the wonderful pastures of God’s good and gracious will.

Jesus shows us over and over: God’s will in the human scene is human well-being.

Prayer

O grace-full and loving One, we pray that your will may be done among us your people so that we may proclaim with authentic joy and freedom the reality of your life-giving power in the world. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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