Thy will be done

Readings for Tuesday February 23, 2010

First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34
Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him“This is how you are to pray:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." (Mt 6:7-13)

There is an important part in the Lord's prayer that many of us fail to keep in mind. Many of us pray the Lord's prayer often, but still fail to remember this important part and to live it out in our lives. The part of the prayer is, "thy will be done." How many times do we ask that His will be done? Often in prayer in and in our lives we are saying do this or do that ... my will be done. Sadly, by only thinking about our own will, we are not giving in to the God's will which is perfect. Our will may bring temporary happiness or pleasure, but it does not bring everlasting peace and happiness.

Saint Polycarp, whose feast day we celebrate today, gives us a great example of what it means to say, and to live out, "thy will be done." Polycarp sought to live a good and holy life by modeling his life after Christ's. He wanted nothing more that for His will to be done, and he even said this until his martyrdom in the second century. May we follow Saint Polycarp's example of true devotion to Jesus and to always say "Lord, thy will be done, not mine, but yours."

Saint Polycarp, pray for us!

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, you are the source of all that is good, may we always follow you rather than the things of this world. Lord, help us to love more, to love you and our neighbor as we are called to. Lord, we pray that we will always give in to your will, for your will is perfect and what is best for us. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.