Matthew 6:7-15

Reflection

Jesus teaches the Our Father prayer to the disciples. He tells them not to pray like the Gentiles, who merely offer empty words to their gods. He also relays that if you forgive someone their trespass, God will forgive you; but if not, you will not be forgiven.

We often think we should or need to use the most, or the best, or the most beautiful words when praying. But prayer is not a competition to impress God. As Jesus says, God knows what we need before we ask him. He is always there and knows our inmost heart and soul. Using empty words in the hope of gaining his attention or being granted an answer to a prayer is pointless.

Be sincere when you pray. Go the Lord with a humble spirit and join him in silence. Let your worries flow to him, let your prayers be wordlessly spoken. Ask the Lord to teach you how to pray. Personal prayer is always developing and growing. Jesus will show you how if you let him.

Saint of the Day

St. Teresa Margaret Redi: 1747 – 1770

“No one can come to the Father except through Me…. This our God and our loving Father is All. He is the beginning of everything, and this love is God Himself. The mirror we have to consult to arrive at divine union is the Sacred Heart of Jesus crucified.”   St. Teresa Margaret Redi