My Thoughts 06/10/2021
When in Jerusalem, we were are taken to the Church of the Pater Noster, on the Mount of Olives. On the walls of the cloister of the convent church there are well over 100 plaques displaying the ‘Our Father’ in different languages and dialects. This is a prayer we share with all.
The Lords Prayer, which we encounter in todays reading, is a summary of the Gospels. It is the prayer of Christian identity. The two key words in the Lords Prayer are Father and Kingdom. Jesus reveals God to us as our Father. We, through the death of Jesus, are offered the Spirit of adoption as children of God.
The other key word, kingdom, summarises the mission of Jesus, which was to establish the kingdom of God on earth. Jesus said, “repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Mt 4:17).
We are called to carry on that mission of bringing about the kingdom of love, justice and peace to all.
Bishop Robert Barron in his reflection today writes, “ Can you see how this prayer rightly orders us? We must put God’s holy name first; we must strive to do his will in all things and at all times; we must be strengthened by spiritual food or we will fall; we must be agents of forgiveness; we must be able to withstand the dark powers.”
Let us slowly pray this prayer given to us by Jesus today, line by line, reflecting on the words. May they take root in our hearts.