The Lord’s Prayer

JESUS said to his disciples: “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. “This is how you are to pray: 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 forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

“If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” REFLECTION IN PRAYING, DO NOT BABBLE LIKE THE PAGANS. Battalogysyte, the Greek word for “babble,” literally means “to talk foolishly, to say incoherently or foolishly.” The translation in the Gospel refers to “many words.” The pagans rely more on their words than on God’s power to answer their prayer.

In contrast, Jesus teaches his disciples the Lord’s Prayer, or the well-known “Our Father.” The Lord’s Prayer has two parts: the first concerns more on the praise of the heavenly Father (v 9) followed by the petitions that his Kingdom come and his will be done on earth as in heaven (v 10). The second part asks for our needs: daily bread, forgiveness, and protection from temptation and evil (vv 11-13).

The Lord’s Prayer teaches us that our priority in life should be to offer praise to God and seek to do his will. We present our petitions to God with confidence that these will lead us to his Kingdom. “Seek first the Kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides” (Mt 6:33).

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: books@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.