Thursday 20 June 2024

Today is Thursday 20 June, the feast of St Alban, in the 11th week of Ordinary Time. Jon Guerra sings the Lord’s Prayer. Our Father 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 sins As we forgive them that sin against us Lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil For thine is the kingdom And the power And the glory Forever Amen Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 6:7-15 ‘When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ‘Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Let the words of the Lord’s prayer soak a little deep into your heart today. You have space now to go through each line slowly… stay with whatever is most drawing you… Is there a line in particular that brings you a sense of fullness of life as you have prayed with it so far? As you listen again to the short reading, notice if there is a part of it that causes you a little tension. Just notice that and bring it to Jesus as he speaks… As this time of prayer comes to an end, is there anything unfinished? Anything you haven’t said or heard in your time with Jesus? Allow space for these things now… Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.