Homily for Thursday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

We just heard the narrative of Jesus introducing the Lord's Prayer, which is found in two of the Gospels: Matthew and Luke. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus warns us not to use many words or engage in meaningless repetition like the pagans, who believed they could influence the gods to favor them.

Jesus tells us that such empty chatter cannot sway our heavenly Father. Instead, He teaches us to surrender to God's will. 

Let us reflect on the true essence of prayer. Jesus encourages us to focus our prayers on glorifying God, supporting the coming of His kingdom, and fulfilling His will rather than merely expressing our desires. By doing this, we acknowledge our dependence on God for our fundamental needs, guidance in this world, and the journey toward the world to come.