Day 359: The Seven Petitions (2803-2806)

• It’s Day 359!!

• ARTICLE 3: THE SEVEN PETITIONS 

• Paragraph 2804 says, “The first series of petitions carries us toward him, for his own sake: thy name, thy kingdom, thy will! It is characteristic of love to think first of the one whom we love. In none of the three petitions do we mention ourselves; the burning desire, even anguish, of the beloved Son for his Father’s glory seizes us: ‘hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done…’ These three supplications were already answered in the saving sacrifice of Christ, but they are henceforth directed in hope toward their final fulfillment, for God is not yet all in all.”

• Paragraph 2805 says, “The second series of petitions unfolds with the same movement as certain Eucharistic epicleses: as an offering up of our expectations, that draws down upon itself the eyes of the Father of mercies. They go up from us and concern us from this very moment, in our present world: ‘give us…forgive us…lead us not…deliver us…’ The fourth and fifth petitions concern our life as such-to be fed and to be healed of sin; the last two concern our battle for the victory of life-that battle of prayer.”

• The most important thing is not the information that we know

• The most important thing is to be able to enter into communion, enter into prayer, enter into relationship with our Father

• Let’s pray!!

Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father in Heaven, our Father who art in Heaven, we give you praise. Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. Lord God, may you be glorified. May your name be hallowed, known to be holy, praised and revered, loved and adored. May your kingdom come. Let your kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven. And, Father, may your will be done. May your will be done in our lives. Not just in this world, not just in our culture but in this day, in this moment, may your will be done. With this next breath, with this next minute, with this next fifteen minutes, Lord, may your will be done, always. Thy will be done always. We make this prayer in the name of the one who gave us this prayer, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen”

• So there we have it!!

• Let’s talk about a paragraph from yesterday because why not?...

• Paragraph 2795 says, “The symbol of the heavens refers us back to the mystery of the covenant we are living when we pray to our Father. He is in heaven, his dwelling place; the Father’s house is our homeland. Sin has exiled us from the land of the covenant, but conversion of heart enables us to return to the Father, to heaven. In Christ, then, heaven and earth are reconciled, for the Son alone ‘descended from heaven’ and causes us to ascend there with him, by his Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension.”

• Have you ever noticed the difference in the seven petitions in the Our Father?

• The first three are for God to be glorified and they are primarily characteristic of LOVE

• Hallowed be THY name

• THY kingdom come

• THY will be done

• First, we must learn how to love the Lord

• The teachings of Jesus reorient our hearts even if we don’t know it

• He puts into our mouths these words that reveal first things first

• The first thing here is that the one whom we love, that His name is hallowed, that His kingdom comes

• There is so much love in that

• The last four petitions are divided into two sets of two petitions each

• Paragraph 2805 says, “The second series of petitions unfolds with the same movement as certain Eucharistic epicleses: as an offering up of our expectations, that draws down upon itself the eyes of the Father of mercies. They go up from us and concern us from this very moment, in our present world: ‘give us…forgive us…lead us not…deliver us…’ The fourth and fifth petitions concern our life as such-to be fed and to be healed of sin; the last two concern our battle for the victory of life-that battle of prayer.”

• Yes, we have to do today’s business

• Today we need God right here, right now

• We need God immediately

• Our eyes are also raised to the ultimate end

• The ultimate end is a battle that we are all in

• Lead US not into temptation

• Deliver US from evil

• It is so important that we keep all of these things in the forefront of our minds

• “God, you are first. God, you are number one. Hallowed be THY name. THY kingdom come. THY will be done. I want to think of YOU first because you are the one whom I love, more than myself.”

• Hopefully we love God more than we love ANYTHING

• That does not automatically happen

• So when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, one of the things we are asking God is to change our hearts

• “God, change my heart so that I can pray. First of all, for you and your own sake. That is amazing. Love you, God. And then also help me to do the tasks of today. Be with me in the tasks of today. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses. And also help me to keep my eyes fixed on the goal. Help me keep my eyes fixed on the fact that you have made us for a heavenly homeland. You have prepared a place for us to dwell with you for eternity. And help us, always, to say yes to that by leading us not into temptation and delivering us from evil.”

• Paragraph 2806 says, “By the three first petitions, we are strengthened in faith, filled with hope, and set aflame by charity. Being creatures and still sinners, we have to petition for us, for that ‘us’ bound by the world and history, which we offer to the boundless love of God. For through the name of his Christ and the reign of his Holy Spirit, our Father accomplishes his plan of salvation, for us and for the whole world.”

• One of the great prayers that have been given to us in our inheritance is called THE CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY

• (In case you don’t know what this Chaplet is, here is a video to help you… Pray with Us: The Chaplet of Divine Mercy and here is a guide on how to pray this amazing prayer: https://ascensionpress.com/pages/divine-mercy-chaplet )

• Jesus revealed to St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, the depth of His heart, longing for our trust and longing to bring what He did for us on Calvary, what He poured out His Holy Spirit and Pentecost, to the WHOLE WORLD

• “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”

• “Through the name of Jesus Christ, and the reign of His Holy Spirit, our Father accomplishes His plan of salvation for us and for the whole world.”

• GOD’S LOVE EXCLUDES NO ONE!!

• SO OUR PRAYER MUST EXCLUDE NO ONE!!

• Fr. Mike is praying FOR YOU!!

• Please pray for Fr. Mike and for each other!!

• Life is a highway…