Daily Gospel Reflection for February 20, 2024

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

A lot of people struggle with knowing how to pray. When is the best time? Where is the best place? What words do I say to have a meaningful prayer experience? We tend to overcomplicate things that can be simple.

Jesus gives us words to pray with in today’s Gospel. The Lord’s Prayer is one that most Catholics are familiar with because we say it every time we go to Mass. It might even have become more of a routine prayer over time because we have said it so many times. But the truth is that it is a meaningful prayer filled with words intentionally chosen by Jesus to honor our heavenly Father.

As busy moms, it can be hard to find the time to do anything for ourselves, including coming up with words to pray. This is where we can choose to say the Our Father. A simple yet meaningful prayer that was given to us by Jesus to form that connection and reverence with God. Because some days, we just don’t have the ability or energy to create our own prayer. The baby is crying again. “Our Father.” The kids are arguing again. “Our Father.”

Another beautiful part of this prayer is the community aspect it has to it. God is a father to all of us; He is “Our Father.”

As moms, we are tasked with the challenge of uniting our family, our domestic church, together to grow closer to God. This includes teaching our children about one of the important reminders from today’s Gospel, forgiveness. This lesson is so hard to teach because it is hard to learn even as an adult! To truly forgive someone else is a challenge. But once we do, we can reunite with our community and obtain graces from God.

Ponder:

When was the last time you reflected on the words of The Lord's Prayer to understand the meaning and intention behind them?

Pray:

Our Father, bring us closer to each other and allow us to instill the importance of community in our children. Help us to forgive those who have hurt us, so that we too may be forgiven.