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 others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."  (Matthew 6: 7 – 15)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray.  It is a prayer that is one that is so familiar to us all.  We often say it in times of need and distress.  I remember as a young child learning the Our Father.  My mother taught me the words by having me repeat them after her until I learned to say them with her.  I can imagine that the disciples learned it in much the same way by repetition.  Prayer truly is a conversation with God and is the way of building our relationship with God.  Our God hears our prayers no matter what form of prayer we use.   The most important thing is to listen as well as speak.

Pat Schifini, OSU