The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Readings from the Liturgy of the Word:
Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14
Psalm 117:1bc, 2
Luke 11:1-4

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Jesus gave His disciples a wonderful prayer that has been handed down to us. What we now call the “Our Father” or “Lord’s Prayer” remains a core prayer of the faithful today. But I find myself running through this prayer in such a hurry that I find I am not really reflecting on the words or hearing what the prayer is actually saying. So, from time to time I pause and spend some time with these few words and my method is rather simple–I just say the prayer and paraphrase as I go, to help extract more from the words and bring me closer to the Lord. It goes like this:

Father, who I can trust completely, loves me unconditionally, protects me and provides all I need . . . Hallowed be Your name, Your Holiness is beyond what I can comprehend, Your name itself is holy beyond measure . . . Your kingdom come, and welcome us into that kingdom where there is no sin or temptation, only Your universal love . . . Give us each day our daily bread, in both the sustenance I need for my body and in the holy body and blood of Your Blessed Son who nourishes my soul in the Holy Eucharist . . . and forgive us our sins, as I am a sinner, weak and in need of Your constant love and forgiveness . . . for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us; Lord teach me how to forgive as You do and love all as You . . . and do not subject us to the final test, but guide me in this world to answer Your call and live as You desire, so when you finally call me my work for You is complete.

Amen.

- Don Claunch, SFO
(dlclaunch at bresnan dot net)