We have been walking together for one week already and what a journey it has been. First Jesus knocked and we answered yes. Then, our Blessed Mother joined us and began walking with us. We took up our own crosses, and began our walk, slowly but surely. On our way, we began an examination of conscience, praying for help to remain in the path of righteousness. Jesus began to teach us about love and reaching out to those around us.
Today, Jesus teaches us how to pray. "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." (Matthew 6:9-13)
The biggest weapon Jesus left us is prayer and the "Our Father" is the most powerful prayer of all. Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, "Praying the Our Father and living it will lead us toward saintliness. The Our Father contains everything: God, ourselves, our neighbors...." The problem is that unfortunately we still become like the pagans of 2000 years ago and we just babble the words. If we really pray the "Our Father" stopping to think about every word we say, we will not encounter any problems in our journey.
When we say OUR FATHER we are placing our complete trust in God. We are recognizing Him as "Our Father" in heaven and earth.
When we say "WHO ART IN HEAVEN" we are accepting that He is bigger than the things of this world and that we need to seek Him first in everything we do.
When we say "HALLOWED BE THY NAME" we are opening the door to our heart to allow His holiness to penetrate us.
When we say "THY KINGDOM COME" we are accepting to take His kingdom to our world and to spread His love to those around us.
When we say "THY WILL BE DONE" we are surrendering our lives and our decisions for Him to do with us as He wishes.
When we say "ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN" we are accepting that we cannot live two separate lives, that our spiritual life has to be linked with our earthly life. We cannot serve two different Gods.
When we say "GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD" we are committing to being generous and sharing the blessings He provides for us each and every day.
When we say "FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES" we are acknowledging that we have sinned and we are willing to change.
When we say "AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US" we understand that in order to ask God to forgive us we must first be willing to forgive those that have hurt us, which means not holding a grudge and letting go of our anger.
When we say "AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION" we agree not to place ourselves in a dangerous position that will make us fall.
When we say "DELIVER US FROM EVIL" we agree to help Him fight evil by serving Him through our actions, our words, and our sacrifices.
Father, guide us in our journey.
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