587. What is the structure of the Lord’s Prayer? (part 1)
(Comp 587) It contains seven petitions
made to God the Father. The first three, more God-centered, draw us toward him
for his glory; it is characteristic of love to think first of the beloved.
These petitions suggest in particular what we ought to ask of him: the
sanctification of his Name, the coming of his Kingdom, and the fulfillment of
his will. The last four petitions present to the Father of mercies our
wretchedness and our expectations. They ask him to feed us, to forgive us, to
sustain us in temptations, and to free us from the Evil One.
“In brief”
(CCC 2857) In the Our Father, the
object of the first three petitions is the glory of the Father: the
sanctification of his name, the coming of the kingdom, and the fulfillment of
his will. The four others present our wants to him: they ask that our lives be
nourished, healed of sin, and made victorious in the struggle of good over
evil.
To deepen and explain
(CCC 2803) After we have placed ourselves in the presence of
God our Father to adore and to love and to bless him, the Spirit of adoption stirs
up in our hearts seven petitions, seven blessings. The first three, more
theological, draw us toward the glory of the Father; the last four, as ways
toward him, commend our wretchedness to his grace. "Deep calls to
deep" (Ps 42:7).
Reflection
(CCC 2804) 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 (Cf. Lk 22:14; 12:50): "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 (Cf. 1 Cor 15:28). [IT CONTINUES]
No comments:
Post a Comment