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Gospel Reading for June 20, 2024 – Matthew 6: 7-15
ALWAYS CHANGE US
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. “This is how you are to pray: ‘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.’ “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
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Prayer is our means of communicating with God. It cannot be just a blabbering of words we do not mean or do not understand. God is not just anybody. He is God, the source of all that is good for us, therefore, when we talk to him, it has to MAKE SENSE.
Prayer also encompasses our whole life. We cannot choose only parts we wish to include and exclude those we wish to exclude. This is why Jesus taught us the Our Father. It is complete.
Prayer is also not only for ourself. It is for the whole Church to which we belong. Take note that Jesus did not teach us to pray: My Father . . . Give me this day my daily bread, etc..
Lastly, prayer, if it is sincere, will ALWAYS CHANGE US for the better. If our prayer does not make us better persons, perhaps we are not really praying and just babbling.
Our Father, may thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven!
