February 28: Tuesday Daily Readings

Gospel Matthew 6:7-15

The Lord’s Prayer (The Master’s Prayer)

Please click on Mt 6:7-15

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.”

I read and admire simple today’s scripture applies my life:

• Jesus addressed the Father is his native Aramaic language as ‘Abba’, a child’s term of endearment, like Papa, Mama, Dada. The Lord’s Prayer flows from the Jewish synagogue prayers that Jesus would have recited. It’s not just a prayer for Jews or Christians, but is appropriate for all believers in God.
• Note the precondition: forgive us in the same way as we have forgiven others.
• True prayer is simple and trusting, sometimes without words: ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10). It can be good to dwell on a phrase or savour a single word.