Reflection for June 20 Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 6:7-15

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 others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

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Reflection:

How do you pray? 

Do you pray with a set of structured prayer such as the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be and many other Catholic prayers? Nothing is wrong with these prayers for it brings you closer to God. What is important is, when you pray you dive inside your prayer this means that your whole being is in communion with your prayer. 

There is no wrong either with your spontaneous/personal prayers for these are prayers that originate deep in your heart.  Your whole being should always  be with your prayers and by doing so you establish your connection with God. 

So you know how to pray and that is very good! But think about the many others who do not know ho w to pray (There are many of them). Perhaps you can make it your mission to teach them how to pray and in the process you bring them closer to Jesus. 

You become productive follower of Jesus when you pay forward whatever you know about Jesus most especially this prayer that HE taught the disciples and you too to pray. 

Have you already shared the Our Father prayer? – Marino J. Dasmarinas