THE ESSENCE OF PRAYER - 02/28/23 (Tuesday of the First Week of Lent)

Matthew 6:9–13

“Pray then like this: 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.”

For the full readings, click here: 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022823.cfm

Blessed Tuesday! It is part of our faith to pray the "Our Father'' prayer which we can do during the Mass, rosary and other opportunities. But, do we know why we pray it? Or, do we simply say these words merely out of habit? When Jesus taught this prayer to His disciples, He was also responding to the mistaken view of pagans who thought that prayer was merely about the length or the number of words. In the "Our Father" prayer, what we can actually see is that our Lord Jesus shows us a model of holiness, and that is to do the will of God. God is our Father who loves us and cares for us always. He loves us with His infinite mercy. As such, it's important for us to remember that everything that happens in life, even the sufferings and the trials, will always lead us to what is good for us if we keep our faith and hope in God. As children of God, we are called by the Lord to live out the words, "Thy Will be done" which is obedience to the will of God. One way of doing this is by being patient amidst all trials because of our firm belief that God will always bring greater good out of it. As such, praying the Lord's prayer should lead us to being confident in the providence and mercy of God amidst the challenges in life. 

At the same time, since doing the will of God means our obedience in Him because of our love for Him, we should also persevere in being faithful to His commandments and teachings. Some people may think that it's just ok to pray the "Our Father" prayer inside the Church, then turn to their personal wants when they go outside the Church. But, a sign of our unwavering love for God is when we are firm in doing His will for us everyday and at every moment of our lives. As such, Jesus tells us to beg for God's forgiveness and to pray that God may lead us away from temptations. It's a sign of humility for us to admit our faults, ask for God's mercy, and beg for grace and strength from God to resist such temptations. Let's not be troubled by the temptations around us, and let's trust in the promise of God that He will deliver us from evil provided that we are always humble. The essence of prayer is to do the will of God, and we can only do this with His help. May we remember to pray this prayer that our Lord teaches us with devotion, attention and perseverance. His mercy pours down from heaven and if we open our hearts to Him, our faith will bear fruit, and we will have the hope of receiving our reward, everlasting happiness with God. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic

Fasting and Abstinence during Lent:

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/56337/fasting-and-abstinence-during-lent

Examination of Conscience and Guide to Sacrament of Confession:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/

Ultimate Catholic Parents Guide:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ls6IcexZAls

Summary and Defense of Catholic Teachings:

https://www.catholic.com/tract/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truth