First Reading: Sir 48:1-14; Psalm: 97. R. v. 12a; Gospel: Mt 6:7-15

PRAYING THE LORD’S PRAYER

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 confidence to approach his Father whenever we pray. There is this complete confidence that children show when around their father. A child believes in the capability of its father to grant his/her request. And this is why children ask for gifts from their fathers in confidence or run towards them for protection when they feel threatened. This is the kind of confidence and trust that Jesus expects to accompany our prayer whenever we say the Lord’s Prayer.

So as we say this prayer bearing in mind its three essential parts: Adoration, Petition, and Contrition; we should do so with that 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 can hate his child still, especially when the child shows remorse for a bad action. How much more our God. 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, as we confidently call on you daily, may our trust in you be strengthened. Amen.