“...ON EARTH AS IT IS IN

HEAVEN.”

We may not all agree on what heaven is going to be like; streets paved with gold? eternal harp playing? walking on clouds? the presence of spouse? pets? enemies? beer? But we can agree that the heaven to which we entrust our loved ones is without want. Sorrows of the earth are left behind. And all conflict, a thing of the past.

The contrast between earth and heaven is drawn quite sharply. The glory of heaven is nothing like the corruption of earth. Some read the Beatitudes to mean that the greater our suffering on earth has been, the greater our reward will be in heaven.

To pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" is to ask God to make earth match heaven, to bring the

new earth to reality among us; make our circumstances on earth as wonderful as we are promised heaven will be. Please God, we are

saying, make my life here and now free of conflict, sorrow and want. Not for myself only, but for all creation.

If this were my thought alone, I'd worry that I was asking too much of God. Heaven is perfect. What right do I have to ask for a

perfect life on earth? But this is Jesus teaching us to ask for life on earth to be "as it is in heaven." This would be preposterous if it were not for the fact that our Bible is the handbook for living heaven's life on earth.

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• There is no “me” in the Lord’s Prayer. All are to share in the blessings we pray for.

Pam and Dean