june 16, 2005

The Lord's Prayer Mt 6:7-15

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."

There is a beauty and strength in the Lord' s prayer. It was one of the first prayers that I learned as a child. I have witnessed more than once an elderly person who had lost much of their memory and yet can still remember this prayer. I like that Jesus said not to babble on and think that God needs to hear alot of words, God know what I need. I know that I need to have forgiveness for others in my heart. If I want God to forgive me, I need to forgive others. I pray to enter this new day with a grateful heart with love and forgiveness of others.