5th Sunday of Lent

Opening Prayer

Lord, grant that I may see you more clearly,
love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly,
day by day.

Scripture

Luke 11:1-4

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” So he said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, may your name be revered as holy.
May your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

Reflection

Our Lord’s response to His disciples’ request to teach them how to pray highlights the profound simplicity and depth of the Lord’s Prayer. Rather than offering a complex formula, Jesus provides a prayer that encompasses praise, submission to God’s will, daily dependence, forgiveness, and protection from evil. This teaches us that genuine prayer is about fostering a close, personal relationship with God, where we openly share our needs, express gratitude, and seek alignment with His divine purpose.

Each petition in the Lord’s Prayer carries a significant challenge for our daily lives. Addressing God as “Father” calls us to recognise our shared humanity and treat everyone as brothers and sisters. Praying for God’s kingdom to come urges us to actively participate in creating a world of justice, peace, and love. Asking for daily bread reminds us of our responsibility to ensure that everyone’s basic needs are met, both physical and spiritual! Seeking forgiveness as we forgive others emphasises the importance of reconciliation and mercy in our relationships. By deeply engaging with each aspect of the Lord’s Prayer, we transform our prayer into a dynamic guide for living out our faith in practical and impactful ways.

Contemplation

I take a few moments to imagine the scene from the Gospel story I just read. I let the words come alive in my heart. I visualise the event as if I was there and part of the story. I pay attention to all the details, the sights, the sounds, the tastes, the smells, and the feelings of the event. I imagine myself as one of the characters in the scene or as myself present in the story. What message does Jesus have for me? How is God speaking to me personally through this story? I open my heart to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Thanksgiving

I ask God, the Father, to give me an intimate knowledge of the many gifts I have received,
so that filled with gratitude for all, I may in all things love and serve the Divine Majesty.

Fellow Pilgrims

Don’t worry about having the right words; worry more about having the right heart. It’s not eloquence he seeks, just honesty.

– Max Lucado

Closing Prayer

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Amen.