Our Father We are permitted to call God “Father”. First person plural: meant to be prayed in communion with all the children of God.

Who art in Heaven We have different earthly fathers, but we all come from one single Father. “Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in Heaven.” Mt 23:9 Earthly fatherhood may divide us, but heavenly Fatherhood unites us.

Hallowed be Thy Name Hallowed means “holy” Sound like the second Commandment? “I Am Who I Am.” YHWH How do we treat God’s holy name?

Thy Kingdom come Like Solomon, we ask for “A listening heart, so that we may discern between good and evil.” So that God, not we, may reign. Jesus is the Kingdom of God in person, we ask to be true followers of Jesus.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. Earth becomes “heaven” when God’s will is done here. What is “God’s will”? How do we recognize it? We ask to become closer to God, so that His will can help us to resist the pull of our own selfishness.

The first three “petitions” in The Lord’s Prayer concern God, as do the first three Commandments. The next four “petitions” concern our needs, as do the last seven Commandments.

Give us this day our daily bread We pray for “our” bread, we think not only of our own needs, but the needs of all. Those who have an abundance of “bread” are called to share. “Daily” bread…like the manna in the desert, we should ask only for what we need right now. We pray for those who take vows of poverty and simplicity who leave everything in order to follow the Lord. They teach, and encourage, us to trust God. Theme of “bread” in Scripture: manna, temptation in the desert, multiplication of the loaves and fishes, Eucharist/Last Supper, road to Emmaus “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” Mt 4:4: Deut 8:3 “We pray that ‘our’ bread, Christ, be given to us every day, that we , who remain and live in Christ, may not depart from His healing power and from His body” St. Cyprian

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. “So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Mt 5:23 We must forgive others, even though that’s hard sometimes, if we want to ask God to forgive us. Whatever we have to forgive one another for is trivial in comparison with the goodness of God, who forgives us.

And lead us not into temptation Does God lead us into temptation? God does not abandon man, but He does allow him to be tested. We ask God not to allow us to be tempted beyond our capacity to resist. “God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation, will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Cor 10:13

But deliver us from evil “When we say ’deliver us from evil’ then there is nothing left for us to ask for. What could the world make you fear if you are protected in the world by God Himself?” St. Cyprian “If God is for us, who is against us?’ St. Paul We ask God to limit the evils that ravage our world and our lives.

Resource: Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI Doubleday Random House, New York 2007

In keeping with the spirit of sharing our “bread’… St. Vincent de Paul has come to us with a need. The 4th grade will be collecting hats, scarves and mittens. These will be used as gifts to accompany gifts given through the magi tree.