Matthew 6:7-15

Lectio (Reading)

Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This is how you are to pray:

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.

“If you forgive men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

Meditatio (Reflecting)

Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.

If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.

Oratio (Responding)

Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.

The our father is probably the most well know prayer in christianity. All christians pray it, and all use the version found in this passage, but the line “Forgive us our traspasses as we forgive those that traspass against us.” has always seemed to alude me and most people.

We recite it all the time, but I wonder how many of us have actually contemplated what it means. Well today, I finally noticed that the line directly after the our father prayer (Matthew 6:14-15), repeats this message of forgiveness, and repeats it very clearly. Stated simply, you will NOT be forgiven, unless you forgive. So simple, but sometimes that seems like a very high bar to get over.

Humans hurt each other so badly that sometimes we may think forgiveness is not possible. But this forgiveness is crucial not only to the plan god has for us in his kingdom of heaven, but right now in our own pain and suffering. Withholding forgiveness really only harms one person, You! Half of the people that have harmed you don’t know, and the other half don’t care. So carrying that resentment only harms you, and prevents you from the freedom and happiness that God really wants for you.

The other reason is that in Gods Kingdom, you will not be allowed to carry resentment. All souls in heaven must understand that love is the highest law, and the hurt, if it happens, must not be allowed to fester, it must be dealt with immediately, so that the healing grace of love can flow back into all of our relationships. This is our call in heaven, and it is our call now. So we need to forgive everything…, from the worst of horrors, down to the slightest offense. For both their sake and ours.

Contemplatio (Contemplating)

Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.

Resolutio (Resolving)

Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.

Oh lord, help me today to find that loving forgiveness that you so want for us, so that I can be healed, and all those I have hurt can be healed too.