24 Feb 2026
This is How We Are to Pray
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For 24 February 2026, Tuesday of the 1st week of Lent, based on Matthew 6:7-15
Jesus said to his disciples: “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
General editor:
25 February 2026 @ 1:18 am
Thanks for the reminder for Lent’s invitation for additional time for each emphasis in this familiar prayer.
25 February 2026 @ 2:03 am
Thank you Beth for illuminating this simple and meaningful prayer, and inviting deeper reflection. What could be a passive letting go to God’s desire is an invitation to deeper relationships with God and others.
25 February 2026 @ 2:33 am
Thanks, Beth, for the reminder to do less babbling of prayers and to be more mindful of their true meaning – a great resolution for this Lenten season!
25 February 2026 @ 2:37 am
Your reflection once again gives me a challenge to go beyond the mere words but into a deeper meaning of them. Thank you.
25 February 2026 @ 3:10 am
Wonderful. “Lose” ten minutes a day and find a wellspring. TY
25 February 2026 @ 3:59 am
Yes Beth! Jesus gave us this “Gift for a lifetime “
connecting us to God and one another. Amen!
So be it! Thank you!
25 February 2026 @ 4:14 am
Your homily refreshed my approach to the our father. While I try always to pray it with reverence, it seems I could pray even more thoughtfully especially during the Lenten season. Thank you for offering God’s truth.
25 February 2026 @ 4:31 am
Beth – Thanks so much for once again sharing the wisdom of The Word to enliven our prayers. If this simple yet profound challenge of Jesus would serve as our focus, it would be more than enough nourishment.
25 February 2026 @ 4:43 am
Sr. Beth, thank you for prompting a new look at this familiar prayer and lifting up its implications for how we live our lives.
25 February 2026 @ 7:10 am
As you say, the whole of the NT could rest on the petition, “thy kingdom come”. This is very illuminating. Indeed perhaps the entire prayer could be considered something of a compendium of Jesus’ teachings. Like the prayers in the psalms, the echoes of God’s desires and God’s will are embedded in the depths of its words illustrating quite profoundly the truth of that famous saying in our tradition, “Lex orandi, lex credendi”. Thank you for your preaching today.
25 February 2026 @ 7:52 am
Beth, thank you for giving so much for deepening the experience of praying the Our Father. It reminds me that i read the Our Father was Pope Francis’ favorite prayer and he prayed it 6 times before going to sleep each night, perhaps meditating each time on a different petition.
27 February 2026 @ 10:52 am
Yes, yes, yes. Thank you, Sr. Beth.