Father Knows

Today’s Gospel Text:  "And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread;

12 And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors;

13 And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.

14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matt 6:7-15

Reflection: "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (vs. 8)

Whose Father knows what we need before we ask him?

These words of Jesus are addressed specifically to the dedicated disciples; which means, that, to them God is their Father who have accepted the message of Jesus and dared to address him as Father.

In the process, Jesus is also communicating another truth to his dedicated disciples; the Father is concerned about our needs and if our needs are not met in any way then it is no need.

We either believe in this truth or allow ourselves to be deceived by our wants and make these wants our need.

Our wants can never be our need and yet we can always deceive ourselves and as humans we are capable of deceiving ourselves, of making our wants our needs.

For example; how difficult it is with regards to the most essential need such as food to know which of it is need and which is want or how much is need and how much is want and when it is a need and when it is a want.

Nor is it true that God does not supply our wants, but to a dedicated disciple he trains them by not supplying their wants so that they may not be deceived into believing that their wants are their needs.

In the process he also trains the dedicated disciple in trusting God to be the giver and provider.

Thus the Psalmist will acclaim: “The Lord is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant. (Ps 111:4b -5)

It also affirms that if God can take care of the needs of the dedicated disciple then it is also true that he can take care of everything and is with them in all things.  

St. Catherine of Sienna once said: "To the servant of God every place is the right place, and every time is the right time." (Letter)

Prayer:  Lord, I believe that you are able to provide us with every blessing in abundance that we may have enough of everything and provision in abundance for every good work. (cfr. 2 Cor 9:8)

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us