Homily for Thursday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

We just heard the story of Jesus introducing the Lord's Prayer, found in only two of the Gospels: Matthew and Luke. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus precedes His teaching of the Prayer by warning us not to use too many words or to babble, as did the pagans, who did so to induce the gods to show favor to them.

Jesus tells us not to pray that way. Our heavenly Father cannot be influenced or controlled by such babbling. Instead, Jesus teaches us to surrender to God's will.

Let us reflect on the true essence of prayer. Jesus encourages us to direct our prayers toward God's glory, the coming of God's kingdom, and the fulfillment of God's will rather than our desires. In doing so, we acknowledge our reliance on God for our most fundamental needs, to navigate this world, and to advance toward the world to come.