RBWords

     These words are followed by the prayer we know as the "Our Father," or "the Lord's Prayer."  The familiarity of that prayer should not distract us from Jesus' statement about "babbling like the pagans who think that they will be heard because of their many words."  A visit to any Catholic religious goods store with its many prayer books of all kinds can be overwhelming to someone who is simply trying to develop a habit of prayer.  My advice to anyone is to start with reflecting on one's relationship to God.  What is that like?  Once one has an idea of the relationship, then one can find the words or gestures that give expression to it.  Starting with prayer books can bypass that vital first step.  The prayer of Jesus acknowledges a relationship in its very first two words:  "Our Father....."

     I frequently advise students who complain that they don't pray enough or not at all to do something simple like the following.  When they wake up in the morning and put their feet on the floor they should simply say: "God, nothing can happen today that we can't handle together!"  When they do that, they make God their partner for the day, and they should not hesitate to talk to God about the day as it develops.  This simple exercise develops an awareness of God's presence at all times and does not require a prayer book or rosary, as helpful as those might be.  Those can come once there is an awareness of God's presence in every single breath they draw!  Then "the Lord's Prayer" with its acknowledgment of our dependence on God and the need to forgive others will begin to make a lot more sense.  AMEN