Jesus said to his disciples:
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans.” Mt. 6
It is so good to reflect upon the prayer Jesus taught us, so that we’ll be less likely the “babble on” this Sunday when we recite his prayer together, in common. Even powerful words can become so automatic, that they can lose quite a bit of their power. For example, we should say, “I love you” to everyone we really love, every day. But, we have to say those three simple words, knowing what they mean and letting that meaning come from my heart to the person I love.
Abba. Jesus begins by urging us to be tender in our address to God. We may have difficulties with the word “Father” (whatever issues we might have with “paternalism” or painful experiences of our own absent or difficult father), but Jesus uses the word, Abba, which shocked his listeners for its intimacy. It is an affectionate address, closer to “Papa.” It is such an act of “community” to begin with the words “Our Abba.” Jesus shows us we are never alone before the God and Father of us all.
May your name be holy. I so want to give you the honor, the praise, the reverence you deserve as the one who made me and sustains me in life. Your Spirit is Holiness itself. From your sanctifying Spirit all holiness comes. By your grace, may I be able to bless your holy name today.
May your Kingdom come. All that I am and whatever I do, including all my choices and relationships are about how your Kingdom, your reign, might come into this world. May your transforming presence fill our world until it is all what you desire it to be. May I be a part of that this day.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. And, let me not live today in some “world” that is separated from you and from your desires for me and for others. Free our world from greed and lust for power that is the root of conflict and division, and which leads to all injustice and the indignities agains human life itself.
Give us this day our daily bread. I need your nourishment each and every day. I don’t need the bread of a celebration each day, but I do need daily bread. Let Jesus be bread - bread that gives life. Continue to nourish us all and sustain us in times that feel like famine.
Forgive us our tresspasses, as we forgive those who tresspass against us. Now I’m going to be bold and ask you to forgive us all. And let us all forgive anyone who has sinned against us. And please link our asking for your forgiveness and our commitment to you that we will be forgiving ourselves.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us. Protect us from all the traps that are out there for us every day - the ones that surprise us, but also the familiar ones we fall into because they’ve become a part of our patterns. We beg your deliverance and freedom today.
Each one of us can say what we want these words to say for us, today, each day.
Rev. Andy Alexander, SJ
I was born and raised in Omaha, 8 blocks from where I now work. My parents were very involved in the Jesuit parish here and were outstanding examples of a commitment to service for my sister and me as we were growing up. I entered the Jesuits in 1966, and was ordained in 1979.
I love giving the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius, in any adaptation. One of my greatest privileges was to serve as pastor at Gesu Parish in Milwaukee for 8 years before coming here. The community there taught me about church, and the relationship between the worship which says who we are and the ministry to which it sends us.
One of the privileges of being back in Omaha was helping my mother care for my father, the last four and a half years of his life. Both of my parents have died and are enjoying the embrace of the Lord which they taught me about all of their lives.
When I write these reflections, I try to imagine the people who will be reading them. I try to imagine what ways I might be in solidarity with people struggling in any way. Then I read the readings. Then I ask, “what is the good news that we need to hear?” Something usually just comes, to me.
It is tremendously consoling to receive mail from people around the world, simply expressing gratitude for a reflection. Most of the time, it is enough to know, from the numbers, that people are finding this site to be a helpful spiritual support.
