HOMILY FOR 1ST TUESDAY IN THE LENT — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: THE PATTERN OF ALL PRAYERS
BY: Fr. Isaac Awe
Isaiah 55:10-11; Matthew 6:7-15
Jesus’ prayer includes an injunction that we must ask God to forgive us in proportion as we forgive those who have wronged us.
Do we pray with joy and confidence? The Jews were noted for their devotion to prayer. Formal prayer was prescribed for three set times a day. And the rabbis had a prayer for every occasion. Jesus warns his disciples against formalism, making prayer something mechanical and devoid of meaning, with little thought for God. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray he gave them the disciple’s prayer, what we call the Our Father or Lord’s Prayer. This prayer dares to call God “our Father” and boldly asks for the things we need to live as his sons and daughters. It is through the gift of the Holy Spirit that we can know God personally and call him “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15).
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We can approach God our Father with confidence and boldness because Jesus Christ has opened the way to heaven for us through his death and resurrection. When we ask God for help, he fortunately does not give us what we deserve. Instead, he responds with grace and mercy. He is kind and forgiving towards us and he expects us to treat our neighbour the same. Do we treat others as they deserve, or do we treat them as the Lord would with grace and mercy? Let us ask the Lord to fill us with the fire of his love and mercy.
Reflection: The lord rescues “THE JUST” in all their distress.
PRAYER: Lord, give us lively faith, firm hope, fervent charity, and great love for you. Take from us all lukewarmness in the meditation of your word, and dullness in prayer. Give us fervour and delight in thinking of you and your grace, and fill us with compassion for others, especially those in need, that we may respond with generosity. Amen
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