In the first reading today, Paul talks about hypocrisy and following the right path.  We are called to live with others and to walk with them.  By sharing our lives, we share our faith and spread the Good News.  But if we are scared of associating with certain people, we aren’t living out our faith in action.  We are choosing our own road which may not be in line with the truth of the gospel—loving everyone without discrimination.

One way we can share our faith is by praying with others.  Even just saying grace before meals affirms to others that your faith is important and is something you aren’t afraid to hide.  In the Gospel today, Jesus teaches us how to pray, giving us the Our Father.  One line that really stood out to me was “for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us.”  This goes back to the idea of hypocrisy.  If we want to be forgiven, we first need to forgive.  There are so many things in life that break us down and upset us, but are these things really worth the negative weight they add to our hearts?  Rather, we should all strive to be more Christ-like and forgiving and offer up all of our tribulations to God.  Problems won’t go away, but they don’t need to weigh us down and lead to grudges and discrimination. By letting them go, we will become happier, healthier people, through which God’s light shines through to help spread the Good News.