THE LORD'S PRAYER
Jesus was praying at a certain place, and, when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord teach us to pray". In response to this request the Lord entrusts to His disciples the fundamental Christian prayer. "OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD, AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US, AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIIL".
The traditional expression "the LORD'S PRAYER" means that the prayer to our Father is taught and given to us by the Lord Jesus.
Jesus is the master of our prayer. He knows in His human heart the needs of His human brothers and sisters and reveals them to us: He is the mothel of our prayer. The Lord's prayer is the most perfect of prayers... In it we ask not only for the things we can rightly desire, but also in the sequence that they should be desired.
Prayer is essentially opening oneself to God in love, adoration, praise, gratitude, humble petition for help and forgiveness. When we pray, we gladly acknowledge that all the good things in life come from God, and that everything and everybody are in His Hands. Prayer, than, can come only from a humble and honest heart. Prayer is for the humble what breathing is for the lungs.
Fr. Cipriano Bontacchio