I remember taking the Prayer Test in 3rd Grade, as my class was preparing for our First Holy Communion. We needed to pray the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be. Sr. Rose Irma called us individually to her desk to recite these prayers by “heart”.I knew I would ace it. I must have thought to myself “I know these prayers…mom taught me these before First Grade…I am a Third grader…I got this.”
Well, my name was called and I made my way to her desk. No, I didn’t freeze. I didn’t forget. I just did it too fast! Sr. Rose Irma made me do it again. Slow down and do it again.
Wise woman. Today’s Gospel reading from St. Matthew we hear Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray…“This is how you are to pray…”
You know, thinking about that 3rd grade experience, I can see that it taught me so much more than memorization.
- We do not pray into the ether…we pray to OUR FATHER. We connect by heart to the One who loves and cares for us more than we can realize.
- There will always be tests…something will always call us to the desk…something will always be infront of us that is beyond our control. But it is not beyond Our Father’s control.
- Slow down…don’t panic, don’t be anxious…we’re not in this alone. We walk this road together and with an All-powerful God.
- Do it again…don’t give up. Keep praying to OUR FATHER no matter what. Some tests last a long time….I only took the SAT once…it was way too long. God is with us…we need to be with Him in the good times and the bad.
- Sooooo….Today….pray the Our Father….slowly, thoughtfully, intimately and calmly…by Heart.
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.”
–MT 6: 7-15
