The Real Essence of Our Father

(Source: Kerygma Mailing List)

The most common prayer among Christians is the Lord's Prayer. It is one of the first prayers that we get to memorize early in life. It is a prayer that is so rich with meaning and calls the pray-er to a particular responsibility.

When praying it, one cannot miss the fact that it is a prayer that is supposed to be offered communally. Thus, "Our father… Give us this day our daily bread… forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us… Do not bring us to the test, but deliver us..." It speaks of the prayer's supplication not for himself but for others even if he is praying it alone.

We cannot deny the fact that God really listens to all our prayers. Not one prayer is left unanswered. That was Jesus' promise, "Ask and you will receive."

Hence, when we ask for bread He gives it to us. So where does the prayer's responsibility come in? When God heeds his supplication by giving him bread he is expected to share it with others. After all, he prayed not just for his own bread but for "our" daily bread. God responds by giving it to one or some, who then are expected to share.

The event when Jesus gave food to 5.000 people can be understood in the same light. The multitude is hungry. Jesus, in His compassion, multiplied the bread. But He gave them not directly to the multitude but to His apostles. And as He gave the food to them "the disciples gave them to the crowds."

(Fr. Sandy V. Enhaynes)

Reflection Question:
Pray the "Our Father" meditatively and imagine yourself praying it with the rest of humanity.