that last post got me thinking about the way in which ‘the prayer’ is divinely ordained. it reminds me of a painting, now destroyed, of matthew writing his gospel. commissioned by a roman church in 1602 for caravaggio, it scandalized the church for its apparent lack of respect for the saint. but it captures the strain of communicating God’s word, both in the angel’s expectant gaze and patiently-guiding hand, and in the old writer’s awkward stance at receiving and writing the word. the Lord’s prayer came with great care and meaning.
