Eleventh Thursday of Ordinary Time

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.

This is how Jesus tells us to pray. He makes it clear that our God is also our Heavenly Father. We are His children and as such we are called to do His Will on earth. In return, He sustains us with our daily bread, forgives us as we forgive, and delivers us from evil. We need all three of these things in order to grow in faith, hope, and love. We need the Body and Blood of Christ to nourish our spirits. We need to be merciful toward others so that our own faults might be forgiven. Lastly, we need to be delivered from temptation and evil because alone we would fall into sin, but with God at our side we can overcome every obstacle to living the Christ-like life.

Do all our thoughts, words, and works find their source in our Heavenly Father’s Will? Do we seek out the strengthening graces of the Blessed Sacrament as often as we can? Are we willing to forgive those who trespass against us and avoid temptation and sin?

O Lord, teach us how to make our lives a living prayer that give glory to your hallowed name.

Amen.