We Dare to Say

We dare to say…

As we end the Eucharistic Prayer at Mass with the great amen and prepare to say the Lord’s Prayer, the priest says, “At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say.”

It is Jesus who taught us this prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).  That’s why we call it the Lord’s Prayer.  So, it is at his command that we offer the Lord’s Prayer.

We are formed by divine teaching when we respond to what the Lord has already placed in our hearts and open ourselves to further teaching from God.

So, why “we dare to say”?

If we really understand what we are asking in the Lord’s Prayer, we know that we should not say these words lightly.  It takes courage to say them. 

Even just the first two words, Our Father, might necessitate a change in the way we live our lives.  If we have embraced the radical individualism of our society, then we need to realize that saying “Our Father” is a call to shed that radical individualism to live in solidarity with our brothers and sisters.  It’s not all about me.

We also need to realize that calling God our Father, indicates the type of relationship we are called to have with God.  In a society where broken homes and dysfunctional families are common, we may not have a good image of the role of a father.  It involves love that flows both ways.  A father cares for his children as the children listen to their father.  What kind of relationship do you have with God?  Do you see him as your Father?

In the Lord’s Prayer, we pray thy will be done.  Thy will be done…Do you mean it?  Do you really trust God and want his Will to be done or would you prefer to say my will be done?  Do you trust God to lead your life and the world?  Or do you want to do your own thing and just want God to “fix” what is not the way you want?  Would this not be like making yourself your own “god” and seeing God as the divine repairman whom you call when things are broken?

In the Lord’s Prayer, we also say forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.  Do you ask God to forgive your sins without you first forgiving those who have hurt you?  Why?

These are just some of the words we pray in the Lord’s Prayer (for further reflection, see “The Lord’s Prayer – Homily for Holy Hour August 2018” and/or “The Our Father”).  My question for you right now is how much do you think about the significance of the words of the Lord’s Prayer when you say them?

Actually, it’s not just the Lord’s Prayer.  How many prayers do you have memorized?  The Hail Mary, the Glory Be, the Prayer to St. Michael, the Prayer of St. Francis…the list can go on.  When you say these prayers do you think at all about the meaning of the words you are praying?

They are not just words.  They are…prayer.  Do you realize what you are asking?  Are you really ready to let God change you in the way you need for you to fulfill these words?

The Lord’s Prayer is given to us word for word by Jesus (Matthew 6:9-13).  The Hail Mary prayer is based on scripture (see my homily for the Assumption in 2021).  The Glory Be has ties to Scripture (Revelation 16:5, Hebrews 13:8, Revelation 1:8).  Scripture is the inspired word of God.  It is not to be taken lightly.

The point is that we say a prayer, we need to think about the meaning of the words.  We need to commit ourselves to the words.  Prayers can be a statement of our faith.  In fact, the Nicene Creed that we say at Mass on Sundays is just that, a statement of our faith, a statement of what we believe (see my presentation series, We Profess, We Believe).

Please don’t just say the words, pray them from your hearts.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff