THE LORD'S PRAYER

Matt 6:7-15

The Lord’s Prayer

The first reading of today brings us to reflect on God’s Word to us, while the gospel gives guidelines for our words to God. I want to give you the fruit of my meditation about the gospel.

The Lord’s Prayer constitutes a multitude of themes applications that touch the very core of Christianity. First, it shows Christ’s proximity to the Father in terms of relationship and intimacy. His knowledge of the Father reveals His very identity. He invites us to join the intimate union between Him and the Father. He invites us to pray, “Abba-Father,” to show this unique love for the Abba. Jesus shows us his freedom to speak to God as the Beloved Son. He is showing us another face of God, other than King, Lord, Judge and Creator as presented in the Old Testament.

Second, it gives light into Christ’s mission on earth, i.e., preaching the Kingdom of God. Jesus longs for the kingdom of heaven to reign in our world. He came to us for this very purpose.

Third, this prayer gives us the idea of a God Father who builds a prosperous community on earth: providing food, forgiving the sins of his people and protecting from temptation.

If we listen very carefully and examine the Our Father we will see that this prayer is divided into two parts. The first part is praise of the Father who is God. The second part of the prayer is still for God but the petition is for our benefit.

In this prayer we find the idea of an intimate relationship between child and father. He is our Father and we are His children. That is the first part with three petitions. The second part also with three petitions is directed to the concrete and basic needs of the believer: our bread, our debts and our deliverance. And Jesus explains one petition, that of forgiveness to show that this is central to Christ’s own teaching; that’s the reason why He came: to reconcile us with one another and with the Father.

And that is the point for Lent; a time to reflect on our relationship with God and our neighbor.  Is there perhaps someone in your life you find it hard to forgive? Ask Him to help you to forgive because the way you forgive is the same way you will be forgiven.

This is a prayer we recite at least three times a day. How do you really pray this Lord’s Prayer? Has it brought you to greater goodness? Has it built in you deep relationship with God and with your brother? Or it is just a piling of words and phrases and formulas.