2020 Catholic Press Association first place award, books about prayer
Can Christians still pray the Our Father in the twenty-first century? We can, and we must.
Gerhard Lohfink breaks open its strange phrases like "hallowed be thy name," its off-putting language like "Father" and "kingdom," and its apparently harsh demands like forgive us as we have forgiven those who hurt us-all to shed light on Jesus' original words and their meaning. By probing what the prayer meant for Jesus and his first disciples in their world Lohfink calls us to allow the Our Father to break open our own minds and hearts to its infinite invitation and challenge for our time and for all ages.
Gerhard Lohfink was professor of New Testament exegesis at the University of Tübingen. Since 1986, he has lived and worked as a theologian for the Catholic Integrated Community. His many books include No Irrelevant Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth, Does God Need the Church?, and Is This All There Is?, all from Liturgical Press.
