“When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name…” — Luke 11:2

 

📖 Readings for October 8, 2025

Gospel – Luke 11:1-4

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
‘Father, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and lead us not into temptation.’” Catholic Gallery+1

(Other readings include Jonah’s prayer in distress and Psalm 130’s cry for mercy.)

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🌟 Verse of the Day

“When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name…” — Luke 11:2

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Reflection

I. Introduction

Prayer lies at the heart of the Christian life. Today, the disciples ask Jesus: “Teach us to pray.” In doing so, they express a longing many of us share—to know how to approach God rightly, humbly, and intimately. The Lord gives them a pattern that remains timeless and powerful.

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II. The Gospel in Context

In Luke 11:1-4, Jesus gives the model we now call the “Lord’s Prayer.” It’s concise, profound, and deeply relational: we address God as Father, we ask for His kingdom, for daily provision, for forgiveness, and for help in spiritual battle. Notice also how Jesus connects our forgiveness to our forgiveness of others. Our prayer life is interwoven with how we live.

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III. Broader Scriptural Resonance on Humility & Prayer

• Jonah’s prayer from the depths (in the belly of the fish) shows that in desperation we turn to God with humility, admitting our powerlessness.

• Psalm 130 echoes that cry from the depths: “If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand?” But God offers redemption.

• Together, these readings frame prayer as humble dependence on God: we come not with demands but with trust.

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IV. Reflections

• The Lord’s Prayer is not a formula to recite thoughtlessly. It is a roadmap to relationship—with reverence (hallowed name), dependence (daily bread), mercy (forgiveness), and reliance (deliverance).

• When we pray “forgive us as we forgive,” we recognize that holding grudges hinders our own relationship with God.

• Asking not to be led into temptation shows humility: we admit vulnerability and invite God’s guidance.

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V. Practical Applications

1. Pray the Lord’s Prayer slowly today, reflecting on each line—Father, kingdom, daily bread, forgiveness, deliverance.

2. Examine areas where you withhold forgiveness, and ask God to soften your heart.

3. In times of temptation or trial, recall this prayer as your anchor.

4. Cultivate a daily habit of prayer—short or long—to root your life in communion with God.

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VI. Conclusion

God does not leave us to fumble in prayer. He teaches us. Today’s passage offers a gift—a pattern, a heart posture, a way to commune. In humility, we approach God not with empty hands but with trust, gratitude, and openness. May our prayer life grow deeper, more honest, more transformative.

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🙏 Prayer for the Reader

Heavenly Father,
Teach me to pray. Help me to approach You with reverence and confidence. Give me a heart that forgives, a spirit that trusts, and lips that call upon You in every circumstance. May Your kingdom come in me; may Your will be done. Sustain me with daily bread, and guard me from temptation. Thank You for hearing me even before I speak. In Jesus’ name. Amen.