The Lord’s Prayer is probably the very first prayer I learned in childhood. And it has become even more precious to me over the years, specially more so now that I am in my twilight years.
The first part is acknowledging the lordship of God over my life, how doing His will should be my paramount concern for His will holds sway over heaven and earth. My life is much simpler now. My daily schedule revolves around driving Jonathan and Jane to and from school and Anabelle as she runs her errands. I used to drive whole companies and hundreds of people in the organizations I managed. Yesterday, we cleaned up Mickey’s condo in preparation for some friends coming to visit over the weekend. I used to clean up massive projects to their successful completion. Every Tuesday, I join a team of catechists in guiding a small group of catechumens seeking the light of faith. I used to teach thousands of students in my classes and to rally hundreds of sales reps in conferences. I used to meet tens and even hundreds of people on a daily basis. Today, my world revolves around eight to ten people on a daily basis. But through it all, there is a God who walks with me every step of the way: guiding, cajoling, inspiring, remonstrating, yet loving and deeply caring. He who has created me is in His heavens and everything is right with my life. He assures me that even in my old age, I am loved and there is still something for me to do for Him.
The second part is asking Him to guide me lead my life. I ask for my daily bread, which today is a lot less than what I used to eat. And then I ask for forgiveness for all my trespasses. I have wronged many and I have wronged God – many times and repeatedly. Sometimes, with malice. And at other times, unknowingly. I bow in humility as ask for pardon through my God. Finally, I pray that I persevere till the end, that I be kept safe from temptations and the machinations of the evil one until I finally get home -safe and sound.
From all their distress God rescues the just.
~ Psalm 34
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.”
Matthew 6:7-15