Readings Is 55:10-11; Ps 33; Matt
6:7-15
The Lord’s Prayer
Today, Jesus
gives us an ideal pattern of Christian prayer popularly known as “The Lord’s
Prayer”. It is important to note the significance of the arrangement of this
prayer. The first three petitions have to do with God’s glory and will; the
last three petitions have to do with our needs and necessities. This means that
God should be placed first above our human needs. All we need to do is keep
praising Him and allow His will to sway. “It is only when God is given his
proper place that all things fall into their proper place.”
When we say
this prayer (Our Father…), we bring our present, past and future before the
presence of God.We ask for bread in the present, ask for forgiveness of
sins of the past and pray for protection against future temptations and
misfortunes. Finally, we should remember that God answers in three ways: He
says yes and gives you what you want; He says no and gives you something
better; He says wait and gives you the best. Prayer, therefore, should not be
an attempt to bend the will of God to our wishes. It should be a total
surrender to Divine will.
