Gospel Reflection For The 19th day of June in the year of Our Lord, 2025
Matthew 6:7-15
6 But thou when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee. 7 And when you are praying, speak not much, as the heathens. For they think that in their much speaking they may be heard. 8 Be not you therefore like to them, for your Father knoweth what is needful for you, before you ask him. 9 Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our supersubstantial bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen. 14 For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences. 15 But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences.
The Our Father is the most important of all prayers, because it is the one taught to us by God, Himself. Jesus, who became man for our salvation, made us His brothers and sisters. This is unfathomable. Grace is a gift freely given, and that such grace is given to us is even more difficult to comprehend. As both our God and our Brother in the person of Christ, He gives to us His Father and His mother. He even allows us to share in His divinity and eternal life. Truly, His generosity knows no bounds!
Saint Teresa of Avila wrote a classic work on this simple prayer in Her Way of Perfection. This great saint used this simple prayer as a simple meditation, opening riches of the spirit to even the most simple of us. She advised us to envision Jesus teaching us the Our Father, just as He did to His Holy Apostles. In the interior of our minds, we may have fellowship with our Lord as we consider each phrase of this prayer. She wrote beautifully and with far deeper meaning than I will represent. The following is merely my interpretation and understanding.
Our Father – God is our Father!
Who art in Heaven – Where is Heaven? Heaven is where God is. Where is God? God is within our hearts!
Hallowed be thy name – God is Holy and this is proper worship.
Thy Kingdom come – God's Kingdom is His Church and Heaven, of which we are a part.
Thy Will be done – Complete trust in our loving Father leads us into absolute submission to His divine providence.
On earth as it is in Heaven – As the Kingdom of God reigns on earth through us and the Church.
Give us this day our daily bread – We trust in God to provide for us as our Father both in our material needs and spiritually, especially through the Eucharist.
And forgive us our trespasses – We acknowledge our sins and ask forgiveness.
As we forgive those who trespass against us – we must show mercy and the love of God.
And lead us not into temptation – we are weak and sinful and we ask God's help.
But deliver us from evil – We ask God's protection.
Amen – let it be, we give our full consent and participation in the salvific mission of Christ as soldiers and servants in the Kingdom of God.
Judson Carroll is the author of several books, including his newest, A Daily Catholic Devotional, Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings July-December, 2025 It is Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5BHFZ7X
and
Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith. It is also Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK
His podcast is The Uncensored Catholic https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-uncensored-catholic