20 June 2013
Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
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.
In the continuation of chapter six of Matthew’s gospel, we come to “the prayer that Jesus taught us.” There must be something to it, if the Lord Himself said This is how you are to pray.
Instead of repeating the prayer, over and over, perhaps today we might choose to focus on one single word, or a short phrase, and then pray silently with that. See how it is that God communicates directly with you in the word or phrase that you most need today. In this writer’s case, it’shallowed by thy name (emphasis on thy).
What is it for you?
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.