Theme No 7
The Lord’s Prayer (part A)
1. Formation Prayer
(To be recited by all present).
In the name of the Father …
Heavenly Father, as we commence this
session of the Formation Programme, help us to believe you are near to us and that you
care for each one of us every day of our lives. Send the Holy Spirit to be our helper and
our guide, enlightening our minds, giving us the grace to serve you with generous hearts
and inspiring us to stand firm as Christians in your love. We ask this through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
2. Scripture Reading - Matthew
6:7–13
(Read by the discussion leader or the member nominated by him.)
'When you are praying, do not heap up empty
phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many
words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
'Pray then in this way: "Our Father in
heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we also have
forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the
evil one."
'For if you forgive others their
trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.'
3. The Message
(Read by the discussion leader or the member nominated by him.)
It was in response to a most heartfelt need
that Jesus gave this fundamental prayer to his disciples and to all who would come after
them. It has been described as a summary of the whole gospel, containing everything which
is to be found in other prayers found in the Scriptures. Saint Thomas Aquinas suggests
that it is the most perfect of prayers, for in it we ask not only for all the things we
can rightly desire, but also in the sequence that they should be desired. Saint Matthew
places the prayer in the context of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus teaches us about a
new way of living our relationship with God and with our neighbour. Then Jesus goes on to
teach us how to put our way of living into prayer. It is not a prayer which we are to use
as if it were a mere formula. Through the action of the Holy Spirit, the words of the
Prayer must become spirit and life for us. It allows us to respond to the movement of the
Spirit which empowers us to cry out 'Abba! Father!' as Saint Paul reminds us. It is the
Prayer which has been used several times each day in the life of the Church since its
earliest years, and is highlighted in the celebration of the Eucharist and the sacraments
of Christian Initiation, Baptism and Confirmation. Before we make our own the first
exclamation of the Lord’s Prayer, we must cleanse our hearts and minds of certain
false images taken from our experiences in this world.
4. The Exercise
(Five minutes of reflection by all members.)
How much is the Lord’s Prayer part of
my own personal prayer life, or the life of my family?
What is my reaction to the title of
'Father' given to God in the Prayer, for example, respect, awe, familiarity, fear?
How could I use the Prayer as a means of
meditation and–or contemplation?
5. The Sharing
(Members share aspects of their personal faith and its place in their lives that have come
to them through the Exercise.)
6. The Word
(The basis of meditation and reflection for the ensuing month given by the discussion
leader.)
'Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his
disciples' (Luke 11:1).
7. Closing Prayer
(Recited by all members)
Father, keep before us the wisdom and love
you have revealed in your Son. Help us to be like him in word and deed, for he lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen.
