The Good News for the Day, June 20, 2024
Thursday in the 11th Week of Ordinary Time (368)
Jesus says to people inspired by him: “When you’re praying, don’t rattle on with long prayers like so many other religions—who imagine they will be heard because they say so many words. Don’t be like them. Your Father knows ahead of time what you need before you ask Him.
This is how you are to pray:
HOW WE MIGHT PRAY WHAT WE SAY OUT LOUD
‘You’re like a real father in that other world, Our Father Who art in heaven
help us respect Your family here, Hallowed be Thy Name
that realm of Yours – help it to come into ours, Thy Kingdom come
what You want needs to be done on earth
as it is in the realm of what is right. Thy Will be done on earth
As it is in heaven.
Nourish us today with all we need, Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us whatever harms we do to others,
as we forgive those who hurt us; and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass
against us.
and don’t let us get into challenges that can destroy us, And lead us not into temptation,
but bring us away from evil and the evil one. But deliver us from Evil
If you forgive other people their faults, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you don’t forgive others, neither will your Father forgive you for going astray.” (Matthew 6)
We recite this prayer, we followers of Jesus but, I suspect, Jesus would be surprised by that way of dealing with his offering. His own prayers were the Psalms of his tradition and, like every other maturing adult, his prayer life developed into this more personal outline of prayer which he shared with us, . We see his more mature prayer life especially in John’s Gospel, a personal conversation.
Perhaps the first sentence of this passage, in my view, suggests we avoid not only lengthy prayers but also habitually recited ones that can become mere custom, thoughtless and remote from our heart.
My practice which I offer to others to pray only one section at a time, turning to God. In your heart, there is a person – God – listening and ready to respond. I know that I always need this “start the car” (remind myself of the real presence of God) and not automatically go ahead thinking prayer is going to happen because I say the words. This way to pray is such good news! It includes gratitude, need, self-examination, and a readiness to listen for a response – which may take practice.
jorisheise 