There’s more we can learn from the Lord’s Prayer.
In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus teach his disciples the Our Father. While the words are precious, it is also important to look at the underlying structure of the prayer. Monsignor Charles Pope described these five basic aspects of prayer.
- Relate: At the heart of our worship and prayer is a deep and personal experience of God’s love and fatherly care for us.
- Rejoice: God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. We should praise Him as much as we can.
- Receive: We need to open ourselves to God’s will, to His word of instruction and His plan for us and the world.
- Request: Take every opportunity to pray for others.
- Repent: Recognizing the sins in our own life and praying for the Lord’s grace and mercy to end evil in our lives and that of the whole world is an essential element of our spiritual life.
During your family prayer time, share the ideas of this pattern of prayer with your family and practice it. Pray together that your relationship with God will grow.
Help us, Lord, as we hope for the future,
find nourishment for the present,
reconcile and ask for forgiveness,
and discover peace.
Lead us into deeper faith with You
and strengthen the bonds with our family members.
With Your grace we will fully participate
in Your movement of establishing Your Kingdom
here on earth and in our hearts.
Amen.
