Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:7-15

 

Jesus said to his disciples: "In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. "This is how you are to pray: 'Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'  "If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus presents us with the most perfect of prayers, the Lord’s prayer. Of all the prayers we say, the Lord’s prayer is the most perfect prayer of all because it was given to us by Christ. It encompasses everything Christians should stand for. It is truly a prayer formed from the Words of God. No matter how bad the transgressions we have committed, God is waiting for us with open arms. But will he forgive us?  Jesus is quite clear in the Gospel reading.  He commands us to forgive our neighbors before we can be forgiven.  This is the ultimate sign of humility is to be able to forgive those who have trespassed against us.  We not only must we be sorrowful for our own sins, but we must also forgive those who have sinned against us.  Jesus tells us, “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” We must purposefully forgive others.  Why would we expect our Father in heaven to do anything we are not willing to do.  Forgiveness is the ultimate sign of love for our neighbor.  God’s love must flow through us.  If we do not forgive our neighbors and our enemies, we stop the flow of God’s love.  When we stop God’s love, we are telling God that others do not deserve his love and compassion.  We are telling God that we are better than our neighbors and that we deserve something that our neighbors are not.  Instead. we must open our arms freely to all who need our love and compassion.  We must forgive those who trespass against us.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

And forgive us our debts,

As we also have forgiven our debtors;

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon