Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time &
Paulinus of Nola, John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr, Thomas More

First Published: Thursday, June 22, 2006

Back and Praying

Readings for Thursday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time
Biographical Information about Paulinus of Nola, John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr, Thomas More

First let me say I am sorry I have not posted here in a while. There was a problem I was fighting with Myspace that was apparently fixed. I am pretty sure someone did not like what has been posted here and decided to stop it by hacking the provider. I am back and am looking into moving the Blog to another host.

Today we have an embarrassment of riches. Not only do we get to reflect upon our Lords instruction on prayer and the gift of the Lords Prayer, but we are reminded of the importance of prayer as we look at the lives and examples of three of our great Saints of the Church. I would strongly encourage any who feel life is burdensome today, to go to the links to the saints above and read some of their stories. These people knew the power of prayer. They sacrificed for their faith and followed Christ to His kingdom for its sake.

As important as the Saints are to the life of the Church, it is overshadowed today by the Lords instruction on prayer. I reflect on this gift how important is that simple framework of blessing and asking. It is part of almost every liturgy and devotional in our faith and is shared by every denomination of Christianity.

Whole books have been written on its content and meaning so this small reflection is not ground breaking. But lets look beyond the actual words to the underlying structure Jesus was asking us to use when addressing the Father in Prayer.

We start with an acknowledgement of the relationship we have with God. It is a familial relationship. We follow that immediately with designating that it is our earthly father we address, not our mortal, biological father. It is Yahweh, I Am, Elo, that we call out to; the God with no name who is all powerful. We have the ability to call him Father who created all that is. Holy indeed is his name.

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,

We share the hope that, through our faith and actions we might all experience his heavenly kingdom. We freely submit our will to his and pray that all the peace and goodness that is the Kingdom of God might also, through our efforts, come to pass in our life on earth.

thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Once we have acknowledged His omnipotence and our obedience to his will, even though, as the Lord has said, He knows all we want and need before we ask for it, we make our request for continued life and health in Him.

Give us this day our daily bread

In addition to that which sustains us physically, we ask for the spiritual strength to do what we must to put our selves on a road to the peace of Christ. It is only through this next request that the spiritual peace can come to us.

and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;

Finally we ask that we not be put to the test as Christ himself was. Even though we know that it is through that test we are purified (like silver), we ask that we not be tempted to fall into sin lest we fail.

and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

We can see the simple framework when it is broken down this way and sometimes when, through Gods grace, we need conversation with him (that is all the time, literally, by the way) we should remember to begin in acknowledgment followed by praise and then our requests (lets never be afraid to ask our Father anything) and know that He will give us what we need for God always answers prayers, even when he says no.

Glad to be back.

Pax