Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Reflection for March 7, 2017

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
IS 55:10-11
PS 34: 4-5, 6-7,16-17, 18-19
MT 4:4B
MT 6:7-15

In today’s gospel, Jesus shares the word of the Our Father with His disciples, teaching them how to pray and talk with their heavenly Father.  If you’re like me, sometimes you may find yourself saying these words you’ve known for years, without thinking much about their meaning.  May we take a moment today to truly talk with God in these words that Jesus gives us. 

“Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name”
May we remember that God is our Father.  We are each called to personal relationship with Him.  This also reminds us that all people are united as children of God.  We are to treat everyone we meet with the respect and grace they deserve as our brothers and sisters. 

“thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.”
Throughout our lives, we try to understand God’s will for our lives.  In Lent, we are invited in a special way to prayerfully consider how we have responded to God’s call.  We are able to reflect, repent, and renew our strength in our discernment.
           
“Give us this day our daily bread”
The first reading today reminds us that God cares for us.  He nourishes and cultivates us as His people.  In times of hardship and drought, God rains down all that we need. Sometimes we become frustrated because we want more, but these words help us to remember to live simply and be thankful for what we have.

“forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us”
In this Lenten time of repentance and reflection, we experience the power of forgiveness in a special way.  We acknowledge our shortcomings and offer them to God in repentance.  We also look to those around us with mercy. 

“and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil”
We ask God to walk with us throughout our lives, guiding our steps closer to Him and away from sin.  We know we will stumble along the way, but we take comfort in knowing that God is with us even then, calling us back to Him.  God is always happy to receive us, and His forgiveness knows no bounds. 



Maria Walawender is a senior majoring in Public Health from Livonia, MI. 

No comments:

Post a Comment