We have each prayed the Our Father hundreds, if not
thousands of times in our lives.
Some of you even started praying it aloud as I read the Gospel! In order to heed Jesus’ teaching—“In praying, do not babble like the
pagans…”—it is important to reflect on this prayer.
First,
this is the only prayer that Jesus explicitly taught us to pray. Think of that…the man who cured,
forgave, instructed and drove out demons gave us one prayer. Thus, the
Lord’s Prayer should be near and dear to each of us.
Second,
this prayer has power. I have
witnessed on numerous occasions the efficacy of our Lord’s words around a
hospitable bed, after an accident or near death. Many times men and women who have been away from God for
decades cry in remembering these words and seek His love once more.
Finally,
our Catholic faith offers us many opportunities for such prayers that become
part of who we are. Often those
with severe loss of mental capacity can still pray the Our Father. Others are able to mouth the words in
their final breaths.
We
will pray the Lord’s Prayer in a few moments, as we do at every Mass. Don’t let a day go by where you don’t
say for yourself the words our savior taught us.
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