Gospel for Tuesday, February 27th

Gospel
Mt 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This is how you are to pray:

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

“If you forgive men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

Reflection:
Jesus tells us to be aware of the fact that the Father always knows what we need. There is no need in babbling like the pagans. How do I put this in todays language? I think that I might be tempted to babble like a pagan by having the idea in my mind that I can do certain things that will automatically make God do certain things. Maybe in my mind I might think that by performing certain acts that this will make God do something for me. Maybe the pagans thought that if they babbled these mantras long enough that God will do thus and so.

Jesus proceeds to give the perfect prayer for us. This prayer has been repeated by His Church for two millenia.