For a more enriching experience,
go down on your knees to pray or take it one step further
and prostrate yourself (lay face down) on the floor while praying.
Today's reading reminds me that prayer is really about showing devotion, obedience, gratitude and praise to You, rather than what is in it for me. It's not about me! So often during prayer, You are the forgotten One and what's in for me takes over. Calling out to You during a distressing time is more desperately grasping for comfort rather than actually creating a devout experience with You. The fearful prayer is more of a begging technique in tandem with a bit of bargaining and compromise; much like a child tugging on his mama's skirt or daddy's pant leg. Unlike a Novena, which is all about devotion to You, the repetitive prayer not only reveals a complete lack of Faith, but it also shows the ego (showmanship) is involved as well. Repetitive praying is rarely about You and usually has discouragement attached to it with the hope that You will grant a miracle out of pity. Having hope is Good because it meditates on an expectation but hoping can often lead us to expect results without taking action. When we pray, we must still row the boat. And wishing is a longing for something that still requires no action on my part.
Now I see why in other scriptures it tells us to basically clear the air first, wherever, however or whoever that may be with and then come to You with our prayer simply because if we do not do this with others, then why would You do it with us? Thank You Father, thank You for this gentle reminder of how to pray; hallowed (sacred) be Your name. Your will be done. I trust You.
Through Jesus Christ's Most Precious Blood, Most Sacred Name and Most Holy Face, I thank You for this awareness. Amen~
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Matthew 6:7-15
[Jesus taught them how to pray and said . . . ]
7 In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
9 "This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name,
10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread;
12 and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
13 and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one."
14 If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ
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