Daily Reflection for Tuesday, March 08, 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to read Tuesday’s scriptures at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/030822.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11
Responsorial: Psalm 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17. 18-19
Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15
Our reflection on Tuesday’s readings:
As often as I recite the Lord’s Prayer, I tend to go through it on autopilot. Inattention leads me to see it as a petition to God to help ME navigate MY way through life in a faith-filled way. My focus is on me.
But the Lord’s Prayer has always been a prayer by and for the Christian community. When I was reminded of that, I re-read the prayer in today’s gospel. The word “our” appears three times, “us” five times, “we” once. The words “me/my/I” appear not at all.
Another line from today’s gospel also challenges me – “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” If that’s true, why do I pray for my daily bread . . . for forgiveness . . . for freedom from temptation and evil? If God knows what I need, why do I need to ask for it?
These thoughts came together one day in a group prayer. As we do so often, we closed by saying, “We ask this through Christ our Lord.” I realized that when I pray “through” Christ, I pray through the Body of Christ . . . the Body of believers here on earth . . . especially the faith community of which I’m a part. As the apostle Paul says, “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)
Growing in faith requires God’s involvement. But it also requires help from the rest of the living Body of Christ. Why? Because I can’t grow in my faith . . . my ability to hear God . . . by myself. I need help!
Help came to me through my involvement with RCIA and Christ Renews His Parish. Today, help also comes from my Small Church Community. Gatherings like these share thoughts and concerns with each other. We pray together. The parts of Christ’s body come together. We form the living body of Christ.
Help also comes from the Daily Reflection ministry. I read reflections from other writers. I read comments from our readers. They offer new perspectives and insights. They make me squirm . . . discern . . . say “Thank you, God” . . . and change. They bring me into the presence of the Body of Christ.
Who can I come together with today to grow in faith?
Peace, fellow members of the Body of Christ,
Bill Bradbury