PRAYER BRINGS US INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD (HOMILY OF THURSDAY OF THE 11WEEK OF 11WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME JUNE 2022

PRAYER BRINGS US INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, in the gospel reading of today. Jesus, while discouraging the act of babbling done by the pagans, instructed his disciples on how to pray. Firstly, Jesus educates his disciples that prayer brings us into the family of God.  The Lord's prayer begins by inviting us into the family of God who is our Father in heaven and invariably enables us to acknowledge that we are God's adopted children. So prayer in the family spirit is relational.

The Lord's prayer carries 6 petitions: 3 refer to God and 3 refer to us. 

1. Hallowed be your name: otherwise “Holy be your name”, invites us in prayer to admit that God is that supreme pure being without any atom of sin or depravity. Holiness means sacred, blameless, consecrated, Saint etc The holiness of God is graciously acknowledged even in the first 3 commandments given by God to Moses, which require: not having any other god before Yahweh, not using the name of the Lord God in vain, and keeping holy the sabbath day. So prayer summons us not only to submit to God as all-holy but also as his children to live day by day a holy life. Remember “be holy as your heavenly Father is holy” (Mt 5:48, Lev 19:2, 1peter 1:15-16).

2. Your kingdom come: in prayer, Jesus taught us to recognize the kingship of God our Father and his heavenly kingdom. It reawakens in us the truth that we are not slaves nor servants but sons and daughters of God's kingdom of love. It reminds us also that we are not of this earthly kingdom but that our the heavenly kingdom where the values of righteousness prevail.

3. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven: This flows from the above prayer petitions, seeking the establishment of the project, plans and purposes of God here on earth. It calls us to accomplish in our lives the will of God, just as St. Paul in his letter to the Roman 12:2 says “Adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of this present world, but let your whole nature be transformed and your mind renewed, that you may discern the will of God, acceptable and perfect”. 

4. Give us this day our daily bread: Jesus teaches us that God cares for us. God is interested in our well-being. No wonder Jesus fed the hungry and cared for the sick etc (Lk 9:10-17, Lk 4:40). God's faithfulness is seen even in the resources with which nations are blessed; abundance of resources. The problem is the inequitable distribution of resources to meet the needs of all. Selfishness,  greed and avarice have engulfed the conscience of our leaders, therefore obstructing the flow of justice and charity. So this petition reminds us that all good gifts proceed from God and God will hold us accountable for the just usage of these gifts for humanity.

4. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us: God is readily disposed to pardon our offences in as much as we do the same to our brothers and sisters when they offend us. God is interested in the reconciliation and mutual understanding that exist between brothers and sisters as a sign of our obedience to his commandments and proof of our love for him. He desires mercy, not sacrifice (Mt 9:13). This is why the sacrament of penance is available to us at all times to submit to the mercy of God and implore his graces to pardon the offences done against us.

5. Do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil: we are reminded that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but principalities and powers in the dark places (Eph 6:12). Without the leadership and companionship of God, human strength is in vain. The Holy Spirit enlightens our hearts and minds to discern the ways of God, and through the scripture which serves as a lamp for our steps, we can avoid occasions of sin. So we need the grace of God to be able to surmount temptations and stand up strong in faith against the evil one.

Dearest friends in Christ, let us with faith say at all times the Lord's prayer for it leads us into the family of God. May the will of God remain established in our lives both now and forever more. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Fr Remi osj