This verse begins the response by Jesus, which we now refer to as the “Our Father” or “The Lord’s Prayer.”
The Lord’s Prayer teaches us both how to speak to God and how to live as his children. Tertullian calls this prayer “the summary of the whole gospel”. Its words gather together our relationship with God, our needs, our responsibilities toward others, and our hope for salvation.
Imagine the disciples watching Jesus pray. When he finishes, one of them asks him to teach them. A disciple asks Jesus for this teaching. Jesus answers by inviting them to address God as Father. Luke gives a shorter form of the prayer; Matthew gives the fuller form underlying the Our Father commonly prayed by Christians. Beginning each morning with it is a fitting practice, as it helps one center the day on God.
Communion with God means sharing our lives with him—receiving his love, listening to him, and allowing that love to shape our choices. The prayer begins with God’s name, kingdom, and will before turning to our needs. That order helps us begin the day by asking: Father, what matters to you, and how can I take part in it?
Before the day fills with work, concerns, and demands, the Our Father gives us a moment to place everything in God’s hands. We remember that we are loved. We ask to choose his way. We bring him our needs, our failures, and the people we find difficult to forgive.
