Together we go to our Father We want to be on the way to the Father. But we can’t reach him by ourselves. By the Lord’s own design, the Our Father unites us to other Christians. Listen to Saint Cyprian: “Before all things, the Teacher of peace and the Master of unity did not wish prayer to be offered individually and privately as one would pray only for himself when he prays. We do not say, ‘My Father, who art in heaven.’” 16 Whenever we pray the Lord’s prayer, we express our union with all Christians. Christ came to gather together those who are scattered. In prayer, the scattered parts of our soul are all directed to God. In this prayer, the scattered members of God’s family are united in being directed to God. This prayer saves us from lonely isolation. We cannot but pray with others and for others when we pray this prayer. God is “Our Father.” Think of those baptized whom you might find it difficult to love, and see yourself as being together with them in this prayer: “Our Father….” The Sacrifice of the Mass is precisely when we have the greatest experience of togetherness. Here we can most truly call out, “Our Father,” especially when we receive Communion. Communion literally means “union with.” In the Mass, we have union with God by sharing in Christ’s own Body and Blood. We also have union with each other. The body of Christ that is the Church comes into being because of the Body of Christ given for our salvation in the Eucharist. As Catholics, we long for all to be fully united in the Church’s communion with heaven. In heaven, there is no division; all the angels and saints are united in praise of our Father. 20 CHAPTER 1 OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN
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