Thursday, June 16, 2016

FALL ASLEEP IN FRIENDSHIP

Sirach 48:1-14; PS 97 Rejoice in the Lord, you just; Matt 6:7-15

Here is a few words taken from the memorial in honor of Elijah as given to us from the book of Sirach, "Blessed is he who shall have seen you and who falls asleep in your friendship."

What a eulogy for Elijah the prophet of God the most high.

It just gives us a moment to reflect on friendship in our own lives.  How are we friends?  What does our friendship look like?  Who in our life could say the same about us as is said about Elijah, "blessed is he who falls asleep in your friendship."

In the gospel we reflect on the prayer Jesus gives the disciples and to us, the "our Father."

The "Our Father" reminds us that the most effective prayer is both communal and other centered not about calling attention to ourselves hence it is "Our" father and "our" bread that is acknowledged.

The "Our Father" is often been called the perfect prayer  because it contains all the elements that should mark our prayer: relationship, community, reverential awe, respect for the unfolding of God's kingdom in history, obedience, dependence, contrition, and the recognition of the presence of evil and its tug in our life, as well the power of God to lead us forth in confidence.

Let us live the "Our Father" and not just pray it today.

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