6/19/2025 (Thursday) Today’s Gospel reading: Matthew 6:7-15

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

6/19/2025 (Thursday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Matthew 6:7-15

In the heart of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pauses to teach His disciples how to pray. It is here, in the Gospel reading above, that He offers the Lord’s Prayer—not merely as words to recite, but as a divine invitation into the presence of God. It begins with two profoundly powerful words: “Our Father.”

These words are not a casual formality. They are a declaration of relationship, identity, and belonging. Jesus could have instructed us to say “Almighty God” or “Heavenly Creator,” and while those titles are true, He chose instead the most intimate name “Father”. And not just my Father, but our Father. This opening phrase carries within it a wellspring of meaning and inspiration for every heart.

Jesus begins His instruction by warning against empty repetition in prayer, saying, “Do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”. This is not a command against prayer itself, but against the idea that God is distant or indifferent, requiring fancy speech or ritual to be moved. Instead, Jesus says your Father already knows.

When we pray “Our Father,” we are reminded that God is not a cold authority or an impersonal force. He is a caring, compassionate Father who understands us, provides for us, and longs to commune with us. He knows our needs, our worries, our silent tears, and still invites us to speak with Him.

The word “Our” is just as meaningful. It reminds us that we are not alone. In Christ, we are part of a vast, diverse, global family of faith. We come before God not as isolated individuals, but as children in a shared household of grace.

This means that when we pray, we are not only aligning our hearts with God, but also with one another. We are called to bear each other’s burdens, seek forgiveness together, and celebrate the blessings of others. “Our Father” tears down walls of division and pride, replacing them with unity and humility. It reminds us that we are all in need of mercy, and all recipients of His grace.

Later in the passage, Jesus emphasizes the importance of forgiveness, linking it directly to how we view God as our Father: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” This is not a transaction, but a transformation.

As children of a forgiving Father, we are called to forgive in return. It is through the lens of “Our Father” that we begin to see others not as enemies or obstacles, but as fellow sons and daughters—broken like us, yet beloved.

To pray “Our Father in heaven” is to remember that our Father is not only loving, but sovereign. He reigns over all things. He is not limited by circumstance or time. When we say “Our Father,” we anchor our hope in a God who is both near and mighty. This allows us to pray with boldness, surrendering our will to His, trusting that His kingdom, power, and glory are greater than anything we face.

So today, let “Our Father” be more than the beginning of a prayer. Let it be the foundation of our identity and our faith. Whether we are joyful or weary, certain or searching, we are invited to come, not as a stranger, but as a child. We are part of a family. We are known. We are loved.

He is Our Father, and that changes everything.

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