Today’s readings focus on God’s Word. The Prophet Isaiah reminded the Israelites that God’s word is fruitful and effective. Besides, the Word was not only the spoken one but it is Jesus Himself who is the Word made Flesh. And in today’s Gospel, it is Jesus who speaks the Word to address the Father who sent him and this is the “Our Father.” The prayer of Jesus which is also called the “Oratio Dominica” gives us the hope of the Lenten Season.

1. God is Expressible- Jesus wanted to teach his disciples to pray directly addressing God as Father. This is to make the disciples realize that God is near them and to address God as Father is the most tangible experience Jesus could give to them. In the Old Testament, God’s name could not just be pronounced and said because of the attribute of perfection the Jews have for God. But Jesus made the Father more personal and proximate to his disciples.

2. Direction of Concern- the vertical and horizontal dimension of one’s mission is found in the “Our Father.” The “Our Father” is divided into two major parts: vertical direction which is addressing the Father and the horizontal direction which is showing concern to one’s neighbor. St. Cyprian of Carthage said that “the commands of the Gospel are nothing else than God’s lessons, the foundations on which to build up hope, the supports for strengthening faith, the food that nourishes the heart.”

3. Revealing the Father- The “Our Father” becomes a prophetic sign about the mission of Jesus. His mission was to reveal the Kingdom of God and most especially the Father whom he is most related to. On Ash Wednesday, we were told that Jesus introduced the Father saying that “the Father who sees you in secret will repay you.” His last word on the Cross will also be about the “Father.” He will exclaim: “Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit.” The entire Lenten Season is not only tracing, following, living and internalizing Christ in our life but it is also learning to know the Father as revealed by Christ.