Today’s powerful Gospel verse raises two questions, one about the tail end of the Our Father and the other about not babbling like the pagans when we pray.
More of the Lord's Prayer
First, have you ever noticed at funerals or weddings that when we come to pray the Our Father, a few voices continue once we Catholics have finished, “For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever.” Amen? Where does that come from? Do we not use the same books of the Gospel?
How do we end up with two versions of this fundamental prayer taught to us as the perfect model of prayer by our Divine Lord Himself? Martin Luther added this prayer to the Our Father and the King James version of the Bible kept it. Known as the final doxology in praise of God it comes from the Catholic Mass and not from the Bible. It comes as the conclusion of the central Eucharistic prayer and is followed by "AMEN!" from the assembly to ratify what God Himself has taught us by saying together, SO BE IT! AMEN!
Father Knows Our Needs
The second question raised by Jesus, warns us not to pray like the pagans who think they will earn a hearing from their gods by the sheer multiplication of their words. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
He means that true prayer is a matter of the frequency of prayer and the devotion and love with which we turn to God, raising our minds and hearts to God. So, Jesus teaches them a model prayer. Jesus’ prayer, “Our Father,” consists of two parts. In the first part, we praise and worship God as our loving, caring Heavenly Father, asking Him to help us to do His Holy Will in our lives as His Will is done in Heaven and, thus, to remain in His kingdom.
In the second part, we present our petitions before the Triune God. First, we ask God for our daily bread, the superabundant spiritual food, along with other present needs; and then for our past needs, especially for the forgiveness of our sins (“forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”), and finally, for our future needs, protection against the tempter and his temptations (“and do not permit us to be led into temptation, but deliver us from evil”).
In this part, we also bring the Trinitarian God into our lives:
- God the Father, the Provider, by asking for daily bread;
- God the Son, our Savior, by asking forgiveness for our sins; and
- God the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, Who is our Guide, Advocate, Comforter, and Illuminator, by asking for protection and deliverance from evil. Amen.
- Today’s Readings
- Father Willy's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. Please watch the video on our Facebook page. (Facebook account not required to view.)
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