Readings:

Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14
Luke 11:1-4
 

Reflection

Luke’s version of the Our Father is a simpler version than the one we recite when we pray it, but it contains all the important elements. It begins addressing God as Abba – which is better translated with the intimate term, ‘daddy’ than the more formal, ‘Father.’ It also begins with praise, and teaches us that when we pray to God, a good idea, before we launch into our petition, is to praise God for who God is.

When we move to petition, the first thing it invites us to ask for is the Kingdom, which means we are asking God to bring this world to an end so that His Kingdom be established. We then ask God to ensure we have enough to eat each day, and we ask God’s forgiveness in accord with how forgiving we are – in other words, we are saying to God that if I am not prepared to forgive, then I don’t expect you to forgive me either. Finally, it asks God not to put us to the test, which in the context of when the Gospel was written means persecution.

We say it frequently, so it is worthwhile reflecting on what it is we say and if that is what we really want of God or not.

Fr. Ray Sanchez CP is the leader of the Oxley community and responsible for Parish Missions and Retreats throughout Australia and NZ.