“The Lord’s Prayer” (5 panels)
Matthew 6:9-13
Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
©️2021 Gloria M. Chang
The Our Father
The Lord’s Prayer (commonly known as the “Our Father” or “Pater Noster”) is the only prayer explicitly taught by Jesus in the New Testament, as recorded in the Gospels. It appears in two versions: Matthew 6:9–13 and a shorter form in Luke 11:2–4. Jesus provides it as a model for prayer in response to his disciples’ request to teach them how to pray.
“The Lord’s Prayer is truly the summary of the whole gospel,” the “most perfect of prayers” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2774, citing Tertullian and St. Thomas Aquinas). Gifted for liturgical and personal prayer, Jesus teaches us to address his Father as “our Father” collectively, in trust and abandonment, willing God’s will, who alone is omniscient and knows what is best for us and the world. In total surrender, we trust our Father for our “daily bread,” forgiving as God forgives, begging him to shape our hearts to his merciful love. In union with God the Father, we walk in union with his Son, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, praying for protection from the Evil One and “perseverance in expectation of Christ’s return” (CCC 2854).
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. Amen.
Matthew 6:9-13
Traditional Chinese Translation
《主禱文》
阮在天裡的父：
願祢的名聖；
祢的國臨到，
祢的旨意得成，
在地裡親像在天裡。
阮的日食，今仔日給阮。
赦免阮的辜負，
親像阮亦有
赦免辜負阮的人。
勿得導阮入於試
著救阮脫離彼個惡的。
Dear GMC, thank you for your beautiful reflection. It reminds us that we are held in divine and loving hands, a hold which cannot be deserved or ruined by us. Praise God.
May our Father in Heaven watch over you!
In ancient times, formal titles were necessary to identify with honor the one in whose presence you are. Correct language and competence in praying were required. Above all, in prayer, one must know the deity’s proper name.
Nothing of the kind in the Our Father! ‘Abba’ that’s the only address. It’s familial.1
Calling upon God is not difficult. The Spirit makes our groans intelligible. I take hope from the above paragraph. God’s ear is super sensitive to my call.
1 Excerpted from 06/20/ blog at https://vhoagland.com/
Thank you, Abba!
In General Audience held at the Vatican yesterday, Pope Leo XIV prayed the Lord’s Prayer with thousands of pilgrims.
Each in native languages resounded in joyful praise to Abba. How blessed are we to have this prayer!
Amen!
Our Father, your caring presence surrounds me,
Dispensing free flow of grace abounds me.
Open my soul for full reception,
Keep me from evil’s deception.
I’m grateful to be your adopted child,
Make my heart humble and mild.
Blessings to you, Ellen!