How often have you paused long enough to consider the importance of the words you speak? Words have great power: to praise and to demean, to build up and to tear down. The same is also true of God. The relationship we are invited to cultivate with our God can be strengthened by the words we choose to use or weakened by those same words.
In today's gospel passage (Mt 6:7-15), Jesus warns his disciples not to use words frivolously when they are praying. Instead, he encourages them to use words constructively, in order to strengthen the relationship they have with our loving Father. He says: This is how you are to pray ... Our Father ... (Mt 6:9). The words of the Lord's Prayer - as we have come to know it - are very intentional. Each phrase is meant to strengthen our relationship with our God, with others or with ourselves. If we based our ideal for living on this prayer, we would be well on the path to being fruitful disciples.
Today, let us attempt to put the words of the Lord's Prayer into action. People who experience us praising God, trying to do the Lord's will in our daily lives, contenting ourselves with that which is provided for our daily nourishment and forgiving those who have wronged us ... will surely see in these words and actions, the presence of our living and loving God.
Have a great day.
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