In today’s Gospel, Jesus told His disciples that when they pray, they should not babble like the pagans do. Jesus went on and told His disciples how they should pray. In effect, we called this prayer the “Lord’s Prayer” or “The Our Father”. To most of us, this prayer was handed on at a very young age. We pray it with the rosary. We sing it at mass and pray it in many other instances.

The Lord’s Prayer reminds me that God already knows what I need even before I ask Him. Before I entered the seminary, many questions and “what if’s” surfaced on my mind. Those times were filled with anxiety because of the uncertain conditions brought by the pandemic. For example, I asked myself “what would happen to the formation year?” “How could formation start when the whole National Capital Region is under Enhanced Community Quarantine?” “What would happen to my family when I leave them, especially that my parents are already in their senior years?” “How can they survive if I am the only person allowed to go outside to buy food and other necessities?” But I held on to the powerful phrase in this prayer, “thy will be done.”

God never ceases to answer all my “what if’s”. With this, I wholeheartedly relinquished my own will and acceded to the will of God, for I know that God has a far better plan for me. The Gospel for today invites me to seek Him and ask Him to guide my heart and mind that I may follow His ways and His will.

By: Sem. Nico Jay Z. del Mundo

Today’s 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 others their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”