Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Matthew 6: 7-15

June 18, 2026 | Thursday

Today’s Gospel 

When you pray, do not use a lot of words, as the pagans do; for they believe that, the more they say, the more chance they have of being heard. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need, even before you ask him.

This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,

holy be your name,

your kingdom, come,

your will, be done

on earth, as in heaven.

Give us today, our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts,

as we forgive those who are in debt to us.

Do not bring us to the test,

but deliver us from the evil one.

If you forgive others their wrongdoings, your Father in heaven will also forgive yours. If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive you.

 Today’s Reflection

Using words in prayer is necessary for our human condition. St. Augustine points out that “we need words by which we may be reminded and may consider what we ask for, not by which we believe that we should either instruct or persuade the Lord” (Letter 130, 11, 21). The words we use in prayer are meant to guide our minds and hearts in seeking God, not as if to win God’s favor by litanies that are devoid of meaning and piety. Jesus identifies these us “babbling empty words” and “vain repetitions.” In contrast, Jesus provides the “Our Father” as a model of perfect prayer. Short and direct, it is steeped with wisdom and spiritual insight, that even early Christians are recorded to pray to the Father thrice a day (Didache, 8).

Each time we ourselves repeat the Lord’s Prayer, may we also be more in tune with what God wants us to be: children who call upon him in love, and children who share his loving mercy to others.

/Vulnerasti, 2026