“LISTENING” TO THE PRAYER
JESUS TAUGHT US
We have all prayed the “Lord’s Prayer,” or what most of us call the “Our Father” more times than we can count. Does repeating this prayer over and over cause us to pray it by rote? Maybe we should “listen” as we pray and think about what else Jesus might be telling us.
“OUR FATHER”: DO NOT SAY “FATHER” IF EVERY DAY YOU DO NOT BEHAVE LIKE A SON OR DAUGHTER
DO NOT SAY “WHO ART IN HEAVEN” IF YOU THINK OF ONLY EARTHLY THINGS
DO NOT SAY “HALLOWED BE THY NAME” IF YOU DO NOT HONOR HIM
DO NOT SAY “YOUR KINGDOM COME” IF YOU CONFUSE HIM WITH MATERIAL SUCCESS
DO NOT SAY “YOUR WILL BE DONE” IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THE FATHER’S WILL WHEN IT IS PAINFUL
DO NOT SAY “GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD” IF YOU ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE HUNGRY, OR WITHOUT THE MEANS TO LIVE
DO NOT SAY “FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES” IF YOU BEAR ANOTHER A GRUDGE
DO NOT SAY “AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION – IF YOU INTEND TO KEEP ON SINNING
DO NOT SAY “DELIVER US FROM EVIL” IF YOU DO NOT TAKE A POSITION AGAINST EVIL
DO NOT SAY “AMEN” IF YOU DO NOT TAKE THE WORDS OF THE ‘OUR FATHER’ SERIOUSLY.
Submitted by Marguerite Mullins
Blessed Sacrament Church 