Here's a thought...

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Here's a thought.  We usually think about the lead us not into temptation phrase as a plea to be delivered from greed or anger or lust or something along those lines.  But what precedes that phrase in the prayer? A plea for forgiveness - both for our sins and those who have/are/will sin against us.

What if the temptation we're praying to be lead not into is the temptation to not forgive those who trespass against us? In other words, the temptation to withhold forgiveness.  What if, of all the temptations out there and there are many, many, many, what if the greatest of these is being led into the valley of the reality of resentment or the nursinghome of grudge or just flat out having your mercy then eating it too?

Giving in to that temptation is essentially being delivered over to evil.  But being delivered from evil, as the prayer hopes?  Well, spell evil backwards and whaddaya get?  Yep, live.  The only way to about-face-truly-live in heaven and on earth is under God's mercy and then returning the favor all 'round.  

It's possible that all the other temptations are offspring of that great mother temptation.  And the only way to best the great mother?  With the our Father...

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into the temptation of keeping forgiveness all to ourselves.

Our daily bread is your mercy.  And it is to be blessed and broken and distributed to one and all, so that we might live.

Just a thought.