Matthew 6: 7-15 Reflection

Gospel 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 men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

Reflection

Prayer can mean only two things: “Help me Lord” and “Thank you Lord.” When we are having a hard time in life because of family or personal problems, mistakes and failures  in the past, our “dis-eases,” and other factors what makes us too weak and needy, we usually pray “Help me Lord.” But when life seems too light and happy because of the presence of our loving family and friends, our work achievements, our financial stability, etc. then our prayer becomes “Thank you Lord.” And in most instances, we pray both because of the intertwining good and not-so good experiences.

But what most people overlook at times is that prayer is NOT simply a noun or a verb. In a deeper reflection, prayer should be “persons.” Some spiritual writers would describe this as “PRAY-ers.”Meaning, by our life, we should reflect to others as the living prayers. In that sense, prayer is not anymore separate from us but it becomes you, me, us. Because the whole point of prayer is not simply to help us understand God, or help us in our needs but to make us like God and one day be ONE with Him.