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The Lord's Prayer



Gospel
Matthew 6:7-15
How to pray

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So you should pray like this:

‘Our Father in heaven,
may your name be held holy,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us.
And do not put us to the test,
but save us from the evil one.

‘Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.’

Reflection:
Jesus redirects prayer from performance to relationship. God, our loving Father, already knows our needs. True prayer is not about informing or impressing him, but about trusting alignment—humbling ourselves to his holy will, relying on his provision, seeking his mercy as we extend mercy, and depending on his deliverance. The Lord’s Prayer is a profound yet simple framework that moves our hearts from self-centered anxiety to God-centered peace. Strikingly, Jesus underscores the conditional necessity of forgiveness, linking God’s mercy to our own merciful hearts.

Question:
Is there a debt of forgiveness—whether large or small—that I am still withholding from someone, thereby hindering my own experience of God’s forgiveness?

Prayer:
Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Align my heart and will with yours. Provide for my needs today. Help me to forgive freely, as you have forgiven me, and deliver me from all evil. Amen.

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