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."
REFLECTION
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. "This is how you are to pray:
" Empty yourself completely; sit waiting, content with God's gift, like a little chick tasting and eating nothing but what its mother brings." (St Romuald)
A simple question: Do I believe that God has the power to change and transform my life? God wants His Word to guide and shape me, giving me His Son, who showed me how much He loves me. In my daily prayers I can babble with a check list of prayers without really listening to Him. I can recite verses, be knowledgeable of what the Bible says yet not hear Him speaking and therefore not listening. If I don't hear and understand what I am praying, then truly I must be babbling.
Knowing that my heavenly Father knows what I need, I should be able to relax and just converse with Him. Have a dialogue. How can I expect Him to answer my prayers when I have not listened to Him or followed His Commandments? The Our Father prayer covers all that I need, teaches me how to ask God for those things. It is my prayer of praise.
As a good Father, He, too, listens. What I want might not be the same as what I need. If the need is to be patient, compassionate, kind, self-giving, caring toward my neighbor, the Holy Spirit will be poured out to purify my prejudices, hatreds, biases, resentments, bitterness, laziness, procrastinations and lack of forgiveness towards others.
Pray the Our Father slowly, listening to every word. God always listens.
As He shows us undeserved mercy, may we offer the same to others.
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