Word to the Wise
Thursday, June 18, 2015 - Thursday in the 11th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Cor 11:1-11 and Matt 6:7-15]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. [Matt]
This admonition from Jesus is followed by the prayer we call "the Our Father" or "the Lord's Prayer." Like anything that is overfamiliar, we can lose the power and meaning of this prayer. It acknowledges our faith in God and our desire to do his will. Then we say words that can easily get past us. We ask God to forgive us to the extent that we forgive others! At the end of the prayer, Jesus repeats words that reemphasize that petition. If we expect forgiveness, we must be ready to forgive!
Catholic tradition has thousands of "prayers" and devotions. One may find all kinds of collections of these prayers. Ultimately, we have to find our way back to the one that Jesus taught and be faced with the challenging task of forgiveness. Otherwise we may simply be babbling like the pagans. Try saying Jesus' prayer slowly and thinking about each line. All other prayer takes second place. AMEN