Our Father who art in heaven
Published Mar 8, 2022 12:05 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
Without doubt, the Lord’s Prayer is one of the most precious inheritance Jesus has left us. Like the great commandment of Love, it points to two directions: The way of ascent to God, and the way of descent to the horizon of the world and of human beings. The first three “thou-petitions” concern God’s cause in the world: The sanctification of His name, the coming of His reign in the lives of human beings, and the fulfillment of His will. The following four “we-petitions” concern the human need of food for the body and forgiveness for the soul, and the need to withstand the great temptations and to be delivered from evil.
Rather than be concerned with the formulation of what we want from God, the prayer points to the right disposition with which to approach God. He is our loving Father. This means that we pray to Him like children who are trustful of His providence, at the same time being disposed to do His will in our lives, to resist temptation, and be ready to forgive each other’s transgressions.
Gospel • MATTHEW 6:7-15
Jesus said to His disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. “This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.“ If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
Without doubt, the Lord’s Prayer is one of the most precious inheritance Jesus has left us. Like the great commandment of Love, it points to two directions: The way of ascent to God, and the way of descent to the horizon of the world and of human beings. The first three “thou-petitions” concern God’s cause in the world: The sanctification of His name, the coming of His reign in the lives of human beings, and the fulfillment of His will. The following four “we-petitions” concern the human need of food for the body and forgiveness for the soul, and the need to withstand the great temptations and to be delivered from evil.
Rather than be concerned with the formulation of what we want from God, the prayer points to the right disposition with which to approach God. He is our loving Father. This means that we pray to Him like children who are trustful of His providence, at the same time being disposed to do His will in our lives, to resist temptation, and be ready to forgive each other’s transgressions.
Gospel • MATTHEW 6:7-15
Jesus said to His disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. “This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.“ If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.