Scripture:
Reflection:
Here we are at the very beginning of our Lenten Season. It’s the very first week, just seven days into this forty-day journey. As we began this Season on Ash Wednesday, we were encouraged to use this time to fast, pray and give alms; all in an effort to refresh, renew and deepen our relationship with God so we would be ready to celebrate the great feast of Easter.
So, it makes great sense for the Readings for today’s Eucharist are on prayer. In our first Reading from Isaiah we are reminded that God’s word is always effective in our lives. Who needs to be reminded about that? Most of us do. We can tend to become pretty nonchalant with our daily prayer, or even let it go. After all, our lives are so full of demands that we have to let go of something. Also, many of us have had the experience of praying for something with all our hearts but not achieving what we want. But Isaiah is trying to remind us that our prayer is never ineffective. It is the path for God to enrich our lives, perhaps even in ways we don’t understand. Without God’s Word we are impoverished indeed.
In the Gospel we are presented with the beautiful prayer, the Our Father. This prayer was given to us by Jesus Himself and many of us pray these beautiful words daily, if not even more often. Jesus begins by telling us to start with “Our Father.” That beginning can renew in us an awareness of our intimate relationship with God. Language experts tell us that a more accurate translation of Jesus Word, “Abba,” is “Dad” or “Daddy.” It’s Jesus’ way of inviting us to realize how cherished we are by our Father in heaven. How privileged a place we have in God’s love. Jesus then speaks about the Father’s holiness and our desire for God to reign over our lives.
While first looking at who God is, Jesus then turns to our needs for daily nourishment and consistent forgiveness. Jesus wants us to know that God isn’t just interested in our praise of Him but is deeply involved in our everyday needs. God is with us at every level of our human experience.
Finally, Jesus reminds us that God’s forgiveness isn’t just for us, but it is to become the way we relate to everyone in our lives.
As we enter fully into this Holy Season, may our prayer be enriched through our daily practice. For it truly reveals to us the constant and overwhelming love we are to share with one another.
Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P. is the director of retreats at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.