The Lord’s Prayer contains some of the most radical lines in any prayer. Yet it is not just a formula of words to be recited, but also a call to action to transform the world. Fr Richard reflects on today’s readings from Mass.
Readings for Thursday of week 11 of ordinary time can be found here.
Imagine that a community decides to build a new playground for children. Many meetings are held to discuss the location, the facilities, how the money will be raised, and who will do the work. And then … nothing actually happens. So much talk, and no action. Everyone would be left feeling very frustrated and disappointed. However, if after all those meetings and discussion, everyone got on and built a splendid playground, the feeling instead would be one of accomplishment and satisfaction.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives his followers a formula of words to say when they pray. No doubt several sermons could be preached on every line of the Lord’s Prayer, but there is one part which is striking because it is so radical, even revolutionary. “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven” is calling for nothing less than the transformation of this world into the life of heaven. This means the removal of everything from our present world which is contrary to the will of God – no more war, hatred, violence or suffering. We may say these words several times every day, but how do we move from words to action, like our imaginary team building that playground? How do we build God’s kingdom on earth?
Our first reading reminds us of those great figures from the Old Testament, Elijah and Elisha, who were never afraid to speak the truth to power when God’s values and kingdom were being violated by kings and rulers. Christians today are called to follow in that great tradition, inspired by our daily reciting of the Lord’s Prayer. We are called not only to speak out when refugees are treated inhumanely, but also to build that world where no-one needs to become a refugee in the first place, a world where justice and peace prevail for everyone. This requires action, but action that must be fully rooted and steeped in prayer.
Mass today is in St Dyfrig and St Samson at 10am.
If you’d like more resources for daily prayer, then check out our Day By Day pages.
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