The gospel that we have today is probably one of the most familiar gospel stories to many of us. The “Our Father” is the basis of the prayers that a lot of us have learned. And rightly so because Jesus himself said that we ought to pray in the same spirit of the “Our Father.” At times, due to our over familiarity of this prayer, there is a tendency to lose its full significance, its depths and its pedagogical or the teaching importance to our very own
Christian life and practice. I am pretty confident that most of us, if not all of us, know by heart and memory this prayer. But what does this prayer do to us? Does it invoke something in us that moves us to reflect deeper on our own spiritual life? Or is it just a mechanical formula prayer that does nothing on how we relate to God and to one another? Have we ever been inspired or consoled by this prayer in moments of great difficulties, confusions, disappointments or sorrows?
If we closely analyze this prayer that Christ himself taught, it will break open important elements of our faith. The “Our Father”, more than anything else, are statements that evoke complete trust and dependence on God. The opening verse itself tells us this: “hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” With everything that humanity has achieved in centuries in the various aspects of life—with the great advancements in technology, medicine, science, engineering— humanity has achieved so much. What we are enjoying right now was unthinkable twenty or fifty years ago. But vis-a-vis with this impressive growth and development is also the growing attitude that I can do everything on my own without God. Our dependence and trust in God are at times being substituted with this self deceiving mentality that
everything that we are enjoying right now – our wealth, our prestige, honor, beauty, good health— will last forever. The bad news is that these things can be gone within just a second. We saw with the collapse of the market that people with lots of money were reduced to bankruptcies; we probably know a friend or family member whom we never thought would have a heart attack and die so young; or a promising football player who in the peak of his fame met a horrible accident that paralyzed him forever. My point is: we really have to examine where we put our ultimate trust, confidence and security. If we are working so hard, putting our best foot forward to things that we know for sure we cannot bring with us after we hit the grave, then why not work extra hard for those things that will ensure us of eternal life with God. Of course, we have to work and aim for success in our own fields and careers, but remember that our insatiable desire for the best is actually a longing for the Ultimate Best, who is God. As what a very famous and accomplished actor once said after achieving the height of success “I have reached the top, and no one and nothing was there.” We know that success is not so much about power, wealth or honor, but having that spontaneous and growing relationship with God and surrounding ourselves with the people who truly love and care for us. As we pray the words of the “Our Father” that God’s will for us may be done on earth as it is in heaven, we really need to re-examine our priorities in life right now and ask ourselves, with complete honesty and
sincerity, if we are indeed heeding or following God’s will. The time is now to make that decision to embrace light and to truly mean what we say when pray as one community the “Our Father.”
This brings us to the other fundamental message of the “Our Father”, forgiveness: “forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us.” Forgiveness is so central to our Christian life and faith that without it all the other teachings do not have meaning. Why is that so? The God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his utmost generosity decided to assume our flesh, to assume our humanity and everything that goes with it except sin, came to this world for one single thing—to manifest how much God loves us, and how far he was willing to go to reconcile us with Him and for us to merit the grace of
forgiveness. Forgiveness is the main reason why Jesus came, and why he had to endure the suffering on the cross. Whenever we see the cross, whenever we find ourselves at every Mass or Liturgy, we celebrate that redeeming work of God, which was primarily considered and done to forgive us of our own transgressions. If that is so important and so central to our faith and who we are, how important and valuable forgiveness and mercy are in our own lives? If that is the reason why Jesus came and if we profess faith in Christ, then forgiveness is not an option for us. With due respect, I find it so sad and really
contradictory to find oneself completely faithful in all the externalities of faith, so good from the outside and from the eyes of others, but completely at war with one’s families and friends. I know that there are legitimate disagreements or, at times, whatever good we do there will always be people who won’t be happy for us, but these should never lead us to a relationship marked with disdain and contempt. I know that we do not live in an ideal or perfect world, but it does not give us the permission not to work for greater harmony and peace, especially within our families. Because, everything or every good thing that we hope for the future, whether it is in the society or in the Church, starts or begins in the family. Looking at these things, who are those people in our lives right now whom we can start building or renewing our relationships – people whom we probably decided to forget because of what they did to us – or, if we are not yet ready to renew those
relationships, what steps can we make in order for us to embrace healing and forgiveness? God is telling us now to free ourselves from the bondage or slavery of hatred and sin, not just for the sake of others, but for own sake and goodness. Let us give ourselves a chance to live and experience God’s redeeming joy. – Fr. Cary