TAKE TWO

TAKE TWO

 

“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” – Matthew 6:12

 

Back when I was in college, I was excited to join organizations or clubs. I felt that one organization would not be enough to keep me busy so I decided to join three. I also assumed active roles in two of the three organizations.

These eventually backfired as most of my time was spent on club meetings rather than on my studies. At the end of that semester, I failed a subject for the very first time.

Fortunately, the subject I failed was offered the following term. I was able to pass it and catch up with my original classmates.

Similar to re-taking a subject, confession gives us the opportunity to ask forgiveness and renew our relationship with God. It’s like re-enrolling in a class where the teacher himself gives you all the answers and even pays for your tuition fee. It’s a pity that we sometimes take the sacrament of reconciliation for granted.

When was the last time you went to confession? Let’s take advantage of this great privilege and come clean before our Lord. Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo.com)

 

REFLECTION:

Confession costs us nothing because Jesus already paid the price.

 

When was the last time you went to confession? Why not insert confession in your to-do list this week?

 

A Dangerous Prayer

A visit with a pilgrim group to Jerusalem always includes a moment of reflection on the Mount of Olives where the “Our Father Church” commemorates that moment when Jesus taught this prayer to His disciples. On the walls inside and outside the Church, you can find the Lord’s Prayer in more than 60 languages, including Tagalog. We usually sit down there and think about this profound prayer. Then I read a text I got years ago, I don’t know anymore from whom. And this text makes us aware how dangerous a prayer the “Our Father” actually is. Here is the text:

         “Do not say FATHER if every day you do not behave like a son or daughter.

Do not say OUR if you live isolated in your egoism.

Do not say WHO ARE IN HEAVEN if you think only of earthly things.

Do not say HOLY BE YOUR NAME if you do not honor Him. 

Do not say YOUR KINGDOM COME if you confuse Him with material success.

Do not say YOUR WILL BE DONE if you do not accept it when it is painful.

Do not say GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD if you are not worried about the people who are hungry, who are without culture and means to live.

Do not say FORGIVE US OUR SINS if you bear your brother a grudge.

Do not say AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION if you intend to keep on sinning.

Do not say DELIVER US FROM EVIL if you do not take position against evil.

Do not say AMEN if you do not take the words of the OUR FATHER seriously.”

A dangerous prayer, don’t you think so? The next time you recite it, take note of what you are actually saying. Otherwise it becomes what Jesus calls in today’s Gospel passage: a “babbling of the pagans. ”Fr . R u d y Horst, SVD

 

Reflection Question:

Has my prayer become a routine? Do I realize what I say when I repeat the prayer Jesus taught us?

 

Lord, my prayer is often a babbling, a saying of words without thinking what I say. Prayer has become a routine. May my prayer become more honest and a loving conversation with You.

 

St. Peter Damian, pray for us.