Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

 

Jesus criticizes the people for whom prayer was a repetition of a magic formula, to oblige God to respond to our needs. The acceptance of our prayer by God depends on God’s goodness, on God who is love and mercy. He wants our good and knows our needs even before we pray to Him.

 

The first words: Our Father, is the name which Jesus uses to address Himself to God. It reveals the new relationship with God that should characterize the life of the communities. We say Our Father and not My Father. We all belong to the great human family of all races and creeds. 

 

To pray to the Father is to enter in intimacy with Him. It also means to be sensitive to the cry of all the brothers and sisters. It means to seek in the first place the Kingdom of God. The experience of God as our Father is the foundation of universal fraternity.

 

Three requests are for the cause of God: The Name, the Kingdom, the Will. In the first part we ask that our relationship with God may be re-established again. To sanctify His name: The name JAHVE means I am with you!  The coming of the Kingdom: The only Lord and King of life is God. The will of God is expressed in His Law. 

 

Four petitions are for the cause of the brothers: Bread, Pardon, Victory, Liberty. The four requests show how necessary it is to transform or change the structures of the community and society: sons and daughters of God may have the same dignity. 

 

We say: Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass us. We offer God the measure of pardon that we want.