First Reading: 2Cor 11:1-11; Psalm: 111. R. v. 7a; Gospel: Mt 6:7-15

PRAYING WITH THE CHILDLIKE CONFIDENCE

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

At the Holy Mass, the priest usually introduces the Lord’s Prayer in the following words: “At the Saviour’s command and formed by Divine teaching we dare to say.” What this means is that Jesus our Saviour has taught and given us the confidence to worthily address his Father as our Father also. This is because we are no longer lost in sin but saved by his blood thereby becoming God’s children. Aside this, we cannot worthily call God our Father.

Jesus therefore has instilled in us the trust and the confidence we need to approach his Father whenever we pray. There is this complete confidence that a child shows when the child is with the father. A child believes in the capability of its father to grant any request. And this is why children ask for gifts from their father in confidence or run towards them for protection when they feel threatened. When we say the Lord’s Prayer, we can approach God with a purer confidence and trust knowing that He is our Creator and God.

So, as we say this prayer bearing in mind its three essential parts: Adoration, Petition, and Contrition; we should do so with the childlike confidence and trust. We should adore God with pure reverence when we say: “Hallowed be your name.” Praying further as we make petition for our daily bread, we should ask in utmost confidence in God’s divine providence. No true father hates his child especially when the child shows remorse for a bad action. How much more our Heavenly Father. So, as we ask for the forgiveness of our trespasses, we should never doubt God’s divine mercy as well.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

God our Father, strengthen our confidence and trust in you as we come to you daily asking for your blessings. Amen.