30 THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT One of the key words of Lent is trust. If, during these forty days, we learn to trust God, we will grow a lot closer to him. Today, let us rediscover in Jesus’ own words the most beautiful prayer in the world, the one that expresses total trust. It is a prayer that must not simply pass through our lips; it must come from the bottom of our hearts. Remember that you are in the presence of the Lord: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Tuesday A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew: In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:7-13) Do not babble like the pagans. Being Christian doesn’t prevent us from sometimes saying empty words. And when it is to God we are speaking, let’s be careful not to simply recite words without thinking about them. The prayer of the Our Father is a great example: we know it by heart; that’s true. But when we say it, are we really praying with the immense confidence it expresses, this wonder at the greatness of God, this deep desire to do his will?
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