Saint Romuald, Abbot
Our Father … (Matthew 6:9)
Truly, there’s no greater prayer. The Lord’s Prayer gets right to the heart of who God is—our Father—even as it gives voice to our deep dependence on him. What a privilege it is to join countless saints in praying these words that Jesus himself has taught us!
Yet, as much as we enjoy saying this prayer, God takes even greater joy in answering us. It’s easy, given all the reverence surrounding the Lord’s Prayer, to lose sight of the fact that it’s meant to be just the beginning of a conversation. No prayer—and certainly not this beautiful one—is supposed to be a monologue. The purpose of prayer is always to open a dialogue with the One who created us.
What if the next time you prayed the Our Father, you gave God a chance to respond? In fact, why not try this right now?
Take a deep breath, quiet yourself, and try to fix your mind on your heavenly Father. Take a few moments to pray the Lord’s prayer slowly and meditatively. Then, be still, and invite him to continue the conversation. Maybe he would say something like this:
“My child, every time you turn to me and say, Father, my heart is warmed with love, and I answer by calling you my son, my daughter. Sometimes, you don’t think you’re worthy of that title, but I do. Remember, I have chosen to give you an inheritance in my kingdom. I treasure you so much, in fact, that I sent my Son, Jesus, to bring you home to me!
“My child, will you work alongside me and build my kingdom today? Will you stretch out your hands to tell your neighbors that I am their Father? I promise to give you everything you need—all your daily bread—as you take up this calling. I promise to set you apart for my work by washing away your sins and protecting you from the evil one. I will always be with you, my child, not just today but every day. So come, follow me. Let’s go out into the world together and bring my love to your brothers and sisters.”
“Father, open my ears to hear your voice.”
Sirach 48:1-14; Psalm 97:1-7
Daily Marriage Tip for June 19, 2014:
Every once in a while surprise him/her with a gesture of kindness, such as a cup of coffee or help with the dishes.