Gospel: February 24. 2026
February 24. 2026 (Tuesday)
1st Week of Lent
Psalter: Week 1 (Violet)
Ps 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19
From all their distress God rescues me.
1st Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11
Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15
When you pray, do not use a lot of words, as the pagans do; for they believe that, the more they say, the more chance they have of being heard. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need, even before you ask him.
This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, holy be your name, your kingdom, come, your will, be done on earth, as in heaven. Give us today, our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive those who are in debt to us. Do not bring us to the test, but deliver us from the evil one.
If you forgive others their wrong doings, your Father in heaven will also forgive yours. If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive you.
Reflection:
Our Father.
Today, Matthew presents the prayer our Lord Jesus taught us: “Our Father.” Central to this prayer is the Kingdom of God. Notably, the Gospel begins with Jesus correcting those who use many words in prayer, reassuring us that the Father already knows our needs. Prayer measures our faith, which is rooted in our relationship with God. The word “our” reveals that we are all God’s children, emphasizing the relationship with God expressed in our community.
Praying to the Father raises awareness that we are part of one human family endowed with shared responsibilities. This entails social and moral responsibility, establishing God’s Kingdom here and now. When we pray, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done,” we commit ourselves to promoting peace, justice, and renewal. It challenges us to be attentive to the poor and marginalized, ensuring everyone receives daily bread. In doing so, our experience of God as Father becomes the foundation for universal fraternity.
May this Lenten season nourish our prayer life and transform us into His image and likeness, building God’s Kingdom in this wounded world.
