Gospel: Matthew 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.”
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Reflection:
What is the secret toward closeness with God? Its prayers that come from
the depths of our beings. This is the foundation of our closeness with God.
From the fountain of our prayerful life will emanate the God given desire to
know more about God. Do we always pray with our hearts and minds on it? Or we
only pray when we feel that we need to pray or when we have the time to pray?
The most effective method of prayer is to pray without any excess baggage
in our hearts. What does this mean? We pray without carrying any hatred in our
hearts. For example if someone has done us wrong and this person is asking for
our forgiveness. What would we do? Would we forgive or not forgive? Of course we
have to forgive. For how can God forgive us when we ourselves are not willing
to forgive? We have to live forgiveness if we want God to hear and forgive us.
We are mere passersby in this world, sooner or later the curtains of our
life in this world will come to a close. How can we go to heaven if we carry
the weight of unforgiveness in our hearts? And how can we go to heaven if we
carry the weight of hatred in our hearts?
When Jesus was dying on the cross He said a short yet very meaningful
prayer to God. While gasping for breath Jesus prayed this: Father forgive them
for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34). If Jesus can forgive why can’t we
forgive?
Do you have hatred or any form of unforgiveness in your heart right now?
Let go of it and if you still cannot let go humbly pray to Jesus and ask Him to
heal you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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