DAILY- HOMILY

March 7, 2017 – TUESDAY, 1st Week of Lent 

Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs Violet

Is 55:10 - 11 / Mt 6: 7 - 15

     Sts. Perpetua (d. 203), a noble lady, and her slave Felicity (d. 203) remained unharmed when thrown to wild beasts; they were then put to the sword during the persecution of Septimus Severus.

1ST READING:     Is 55: 10- 11

     As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return till they have watered the earth, making it yield seed for the sower and food for others to eat, so is my word that goes forth out of my mouth: it will not return to me idle, but it will accomplish my will, the purpose for which it has been sent.

GOSPEL READING:     Mt 6: 7- 15

     Jesus said to his disciples, "When you pray, do not use a lot of words, as the pagans do, for they hold that the more they say, the more chance they have of being heard. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need, even before you ask him.

     "This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, holy be your name, your kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today the kind of bread we need. Forgive us our debts just as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us. Do not bring us to the test but deliver us from the evil one. If you forgive others their wrongs, your Father in heaven will also forgive yours. If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive you either."

REFLECTION

In the Gospel reading Matthew recounts how Jesus taught us to pray. The Lord's Prayer is a beautiful and complete prayer.

     First, it acknowledges that God in heaven is our Father. Not only is he holy; his name is also holy.

     Second, it is always better to enter into his will. Yet how many times do we ask God to do our will, rather than we do what he wills? Most of the time, we are unhappy because we deviate from God's will and plan for us; we often think our plan is better than God's.

     Third, we must put our trust in God's providence. We always worry we do not have enough money or food to eat. But our Father will sustain and take care of us.

     Fourth, it is very hard to forgive those who have wronged us. When treated badly or unfairly, we want to get even. Yet how can we ask for God's forgiveness if we do not forgive those who have wronged us?

     Last, we ask to be delivered from the test and from evil.

     The Lord's Prayer is the prayer to our Father in heaven who loves and cares for his children, who knows what each one needs even before he I she asks.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

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