Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need, even before you ask him. This, then, is
how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, holy be your name, your kingdom, come, your will,
be done on earth, as in heaven. Give us today, our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we
forgive those who are in debt to us. Do not bring us to the test, but deliver us from the evil one.
If you forgive others their wrongdoings, your Father in heaven will also forgive yours. If you
do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive you.

Reflect

“Our Father.” Matthew’s version of the “Our Father” in Mt. 6:9-13 appears to be the center of the
teachings found in the Sermon on the Mount. If we compare Matthew’s version with that
of Luke (cf. Lk. 11:2-4), we can observe that Matthew puts the two petitions “your kingdom
come” and “your will be done” together in v. 10. We must pray for the coming of the kingdom
of God. However, those of us, Jesus’ disciples who pray for God’s kingdom to come, should
also be able to submit our will to the will of the heavenly Father. This particular lesson from such
prayer is not easy but Jesus is teaching us that it is always possible. The prayer in today’s
Gospel passage ends with a commentary on forgiveness (cf. Mt. 6:14-15). In the same
vein, to forgive is never easy. Nevertheless, it is possible. Forgiving those who hurt us
is a way of submitting our will to the will of God who himself, as a Father, is always ready to
forgive us.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2024