February 28, 2023

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.

Why Do You Follow Jesus?

What is the reason you follow Jesus?

Are you moved primarily by your relationship with him or are your prayers mostly empty words, like the pagans Jesus mentions? Simply put, are you moved out of love, or are you moved by the desire for acclaim? Likely for most of us, it’s a little of both if we’re being honest.

We like having the affirmation of being seen as good in addition to our love for Jesus. But Jesus calls us to love without asking for anything in return besides our daily bread, and forgiveness.

The Our Father is a prayer formula that helps us know how much we need from God. May God help us to know that we need him even to be good and virtuous. Then we can direct all of the acclaim back to him and love him more fully.

—Alex Hale, SJ, is a Jesuit scholastic from the Midwest Province studying philosophy at Loyola University Chicago.

Prayer 

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 for
give us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

—Traditional prayer