Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 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 men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
When you pray
1. Prayer. Prayer serves as the driving force behind your spiritual journey. To truly grow spiritually, allow prayer to become as natural to you as breathing or your heartbeat. It enables you to perceive the “supernatural dimension” in your everyday life, much like wearing glasses that reveal God’s presence in everything that happens to you. This transformation takes time, but Lent is the perfect season to start trying.
2. Babbling. A meaningful spiritual life doesn’t require endless words or countless actions. It’s about embracing a new way of living, adopting an attitude of trust—placing yourself confidently in God’s hands and being open to whatever He asks. Sometimes, Christians seek elaborate techniques or specific postures for prayer. Yet, what Jesus really wants is for you to open yourself to His love. Simply set aside a moment each day to be with Him—whether you speak or quietly think of Him. As St. John Maria Vianney, the Curé d’Ars, used to say when he sat before the Eucharist: “I look at Him, and He looks at me.”
3. Father. God is your Father. Each line of the Lord’s Prayer sums up your life—it expresses faith in God who is in heaven and calls upon Him to deliver us from evil.
Today, I invite you to say this prayer thoughtfully, considering each phrase to determine if you truly live by all its meaning. Choose the line that resonates most with you right now and reflect on it throughout the day. Repeat this phrase every day during Lent. Personally, I want to focus on and deepen my understanding of the line, “Who art in heaven.”
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you and keep you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
