PRAYER MOMENT
Thursday
19 June 2014
OUR FATHER
Pause. Be still
in the presence of God.
Reading: “Elijah was
sent to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children.” (Sir 48:1-14)
Reflection. In
this striking phrase Ben Sira
celebrates the achievements of Elijah and our gospel today (Matt 6:7-15) gives
us the Our Father. Can we see a connection? Jesus often refers to “my Father”
but after the resurrection it becomes “my Father and your Father” or more
simply, as the weight of tradition gives it to us, “our Father.” What a small
word, “our”! Yet what an astonishing message it conveys. Jesus is telling us
God is not simply the almighty distant unknowable God but he is Father, Abba,
Dad. In our families we learnt what a father is and hopefully in the great
majority of families it was and is a good experience. A father wants the best
for his children and our Father in heaven wants to share with us the fullness
of life which he alone can bestow. He has turned his heart towards us in the
person of Jesus who is one of us.
Prayer. Our
Father, who art in heaven. … Amen.
David Harold-Barry SJ
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