February 23, 2021

St. Polycarp

Mt 6: 7-15

“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Draw closer to God

How should we pray? When we turn to God in prayer, we don’t always know what we need. Like a tearful child running to her mother, we come to God with a jumble of problems. We hope he can sort those problems out, but more importantly we long for him to comfort us. 

This is why Christ begins the prayer with “Our Father”: God is our loving Father who knows what we need. And so we don’t need to “babble.” Rather, like Christ, we are called to remain in the Father who longs to embrace us as his children, and missions us to lead others to his open arms.

This Lent, how is Christ calling you to draw closer to God? And how are you showing others God’s great love for them?

—Bill McCormick, SJ, is a scholastic of the USA Central and Southern Province in theology studies at Regis College in Toronto, Canada.

 

Prayer

Lord, grant me the interior knowledge of all the great goods I have received, in order that, stirred to profound gratitude, I may become able to love and serve you in all things. 

—Spiritual Exercises, no. 233

Please share the Good Word with your friends!