Sermon – The Prayer Taught by Christ: The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:7-15) – June 18, 2026
- Jun 18
- 3 min read
In today's Gospel (Matthew 6:7-15), Jesus teaches us a fundamental truth of Christian life: how to pray.
His disciples saw him praying frequently and noticed that his prayers were different.
Jesus not only teaches us some words, but also explains the inner attitude we should have when praying and gives us the most perfect prayer: the Lord's Prayer (Our Father in Heaven).
What is prayer?
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, prayer is the raising of the soul to God or the asking of God for appropriate blessings (CCI 2559).
Prayer is not simply repeating certain words or telling God our needs.
God knows what we need even before we ask. Prayer is, above all, a loving encounter, a living dialogue between God and His children.
When we pray, we are not trying to change God; we are allowing God to transform our hearts.
Saint Teresa of Avila says:
Prayer is not about thinking too much, it's about loving too much.
How should we pray?
Jesus warns:
When praying, do not repeat empty words endlessly like idolaters.
Here, the Lord is not criticizing repetitive prayers, but rather words that do not come from the heart, that are mechanical and meaningless.
Therefore, when we pray, we should pray with faith, confidence, sincerity, perseverance, and a mindful heart.
Christian prayer is not a method for obtaining our desires, but rather the confident conversation of a child with the Father.
The Humble Spirit of Prayer
The Catechism teaches as follows:
Humility is the foundation of prayer. (KKI 2559)
A person who truly prays knows that they are in need of God. A proud person trusts in their own strength; a humble person knows that they can do nothing without God.
When we begin the Lord’s Prayer by saying “Our Father,” we acknowledge that we are children of God. When we say “Our,” we declare that we are not alone, that we are members of God’s family.
Saint Augustine said: Humility is the foundation of all virtues.
The Seven Requests in the Lord's Prayer
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the Lord's Prayer consists of seven requests (CCC 2803-2856).
The First Three Wishes: They are directed to God.
May your name be blessed.
We pray that the name of God may be known, loved, and glorified by all.
Let your sovereignty come.
We pray that God’s Kingdom will grow in hearts, in the Church, and throughout the world.
May your will be done on earth, just as it is in heaven.
We ask for grace so that we may accept and fulfill God's will, not our own.
The Last Four Wishes: They are about human needs.
Give us our daily bread today.
We pray for both our material needs and our spiritual nourishment. This also refers to the Word of God and the Eucharist.
Forgive our sins, just as we forgive those who wrong us.
We acknowledge our sins and seek God's mercy. Those who seek mercy must also show mercy to others.
Do not expose us to temptations.
We seek God's help to remain faithful during trials and spiritual struggles.
Save us from evil.
We pray for protection from sin, evil, and especially the influence of Satan.
The Lord's Prayer is the most perfect prayer because it is the prayer taught directly by Jesus Christ. It contains everything we should ask for, desire, and love.
Saint Cyprian of Carthage writes:
Is there any prayer more spiritual than the prayer taught by Christ?
And Saint Padre Pio says: Prayer is the most powerful weapon we possess; it is the key that opens the heart of God.
Today, the Lord calls us to pray not with our lips, but with our hearts. Let us trust not in our own strength, but in the mercy of our heavenly Father.
Whenever we recite the " Our Father " prayer, let us remember that we are God's beloved children, and let us pray with faith, humility, and love.
May the Virgin Mary always teach us to pray with humility and mindfulness.
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