Genesis 18:20-32; Psalm 138; Colossians 2:12-14; St. Luke 11:1-13
Lord, on the day I called for help, You answered me.
When you need immediate physical assistance, is there any faster way to be helped than by calling 9-1-1? We can’t think of one.
When we need immediate spiritual help, there is no faster way to be assisted than by calling on God, who is always “on the line.”
The disciples themselves requested this kind of help when they asked Jesus how to pray. Jesus directed them to His Father who knows and answers every need we could possibly have, even the ones we have not yet recognized. Since our all-wise and all-powerful Lord knows our needs before we do, as Jesus once said (Mt 6:8) that should be comforting! Many parents would love to have that ability!
Since God already knows what is best for us, let’s look at the first two petitions of the Our Father in the Gospel of Luke. These can inspire us to rise above ourselves…toward God.
The first petition we read is: “Father, hallowed be your name.” To hallow is to make holy. Treating God’s name with respect and encouraging others to do so is a first step. We want to use God’s name when praying, teaching, and speaking of him, to show our reverence and love.
I may think to myself, “God’s name is already holy. What else can I do to hallow it?” Since I bear the name “Christian,” I can be a walking sign of the love of God that Christ came to spread on earth.
Jesus healed sick people, and they praised God for their cure. God’s name is also honored by people praising Him for the kindnesses that I do. If I have the gift of healing, great! If not, I can still reach out and comfort others, visit the sick, pray for them, make a meal for them, send cards, or call them.
When someone receives this selfless kindness, it brings rejoicing and praise of God and His holy name. As St. Paul said to the Corinthians in encouraging and praising their generosity: “…for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God (2 Cor.9-12).” Won’t God be pleased when people praise Him because of our service to others?
The second petition in today’s gospel is “Your kingdom come.” God’s kingdom comes little by little, one by one, as we, His children, let Him rule our hearts. Do I ask my Lord and King to help me plan my day, my week? Do I invite the Holy Spirit to guide my decisions, or do I ask Him to follow my ideas and priorities?
God’s kingdom will come in its time, if we cooperate with his grace. Sometimes we have to wait.
According to Matthew 7:24-25, Jesus’ kingdom will be built on the bedrock of His teaching, not on the shifting sand of our whims. We will know what He teaches by frequently reading Sacred Scripture and taking time to reflect on what a passage means for our daily lives. It can mean listening more carefully to the readings and homily at Mass and maybe discussing a point or two later.
There are endless ways we can live out these petitions in our daily lives. The Holy Spirit will help you to think of them as you go through your week.
We hallow God’s name when we imitate His Son.
We bring His Kingdom into reality when we allow Him to be the King of our hearts and our lives.
…how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?
NOTE: A copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church should be a staple in every Catholic home. This book is beautifully written. An online version can be found at https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM.
and then