One of the most ancient approaches to spiritual formation comes from the desert fathers who used to offer brief commentaries on various prayers. In keeping with the ancient practice, what follows is a brief meditation on the Our Father.
The Lord Jesus came into this world to share his eternal Sonship with us, so that each of us might live something of his personal relationship with the Father in the Spirit. In order to instruct us how to live such a relationship with the Father, Jesus taught us how to pray.
Our Father…
Jesus taught us to turn the eyes of our hearts towards his eternal Father, and to call upon him in love and confidence as our Father
who art in heaven…
who exists beyond the visible world of nature, beyond the invisible world of angels, beyond all finite beings whatsoever, dwelling in unapproachable Light
hallowed be thy Name.
let the works of Christians reflect your Light in the world and cause your Name to be revered everywhere
Thy Kingdom come.
let the Holy Spirit come to reign in every heart
Thy will be done…
incline our hearts in the Spirit to acts of faith, hope, and love, and let your saving work in souls everywhere come to fulfillment in eternal life
on earth as it is in heaven.
let the contemplative life of the blessed in heaven descend upon our minds here below — at least insofar as it possible in this life by the light of grace
Give us this day our daily bread…
give us today a foretaste of life in the world to come, especially in the Eucharist
and forgive us our trespasses…
let the working power of your merciful love and the healing rays of your truth permeate us through and through and release us from every unholy and unreasonable impulse
as we forgive those who trespass against…
as we lay down at your feet all rights to payback from those who have wronged us
and lead us not into temptation…
though temptation may come for our benefit, let it not triumph over us in any way
but deliver us from the Evil One.
that is, let all the works of the thief, the murderer, the liar, and the accuser of the brethren come to nothing in our hearts.
Amen.
Let it be so.
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Editor’s note: Father James Dominic Brent, O.P. is the author of The Father’s House: Discovering Our Home in the Trinity. His book would make a great Christmas gift for college students, young adults, or anyone seeking to grow in their understanding of the spiritual life and the mystery of our heavenly Father. Highly recommended: “If you want to know the meaning of life, if you long to know who you are and Whose you are, if your heart aches to love and to be loved, this book will guide you to the answers and bring you into communion with the One who holds them.” –from the Foreword by Sister Bethany Madonna, SV
