The Lord’s Prayer has been connected to the Lord’s Supper since the Early Church. Over time, it was expanded into the Canon of the Mass, an elaborate set of prayers which also contained the Words of Institution. By Luther’s time, the Canon was full of sacrificial language, as though the priest offered up Christ as a sacrifice to the Father. Luther called this an abomination and removed it from the liturgy, retaining only the Lord’s Prayer and the Words of Institution. Eucharistic Prayers have since returned to some settings of our liturgy and are beneficial as further preparation for the Sacrament. The Eucharistic Prayers we use today focus on the benefits received in the Sacrament and petitions that we receive it faithfully and worthily.
Each petition of the Lord’s Prayer is answered directly in the Words of Institution and reception of the Sacrament which follow. When we pray, “Our Father,” we acknowledge that our worthiness to approach the altar of God comes only by His grace given to us when He made us His children in Baptism. When our Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples the Lord’s Prayer, He gave all the baptized a model for calling upon our heavenly Father who graciously hears our prayer and gives us all good things according to His Word (Matthew 6:9-13). In the Lord’s Prayer, we lay claim to our right as children of God to call upon Him as we prepare to receive the Sacrament. Our status as heirs with Christ is the confidence by which we enter into the Holy of Holies (Hebrews 10:19-25).
God’s name is hallowed when the Church faithfully celebrates the Lord’s Supper according to Christ’s institution. We pray, “Thy kingdom come,” and we receive it in the Sacrament which bestows life and salvation. We witness the will of God being done as heaven is joined to earth and salvation is given to us in Christ’s body and blood. “Give us this day our daily bread” is answered as we receive the bread of life from heaven. We ask, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Christ’s blood was shed for the forgiveness of sins, now given to us in the Sacrament, and we confess our fellowship and unity with our brothers and sisters as we commune as one body of Christ. We pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” and we receive Christ’s very body and blood for the strengthening of our faith and protection against the devil, the world, and our sinful nature. As a preparation for the Sacrament, the Lord’s Prayer gives voice to our true needs and points us to the place where God answers our prayer.