In today’s Gospel Jesus teaches us, His disciples, how to pray and what words to use. We pray for the coming of God’s Kingdom in these words: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.” God’s Kingdom is present where God’s will is being done. Jesus “embodies” this pray in His own life. He does His heavenly Father’s will each day. He echoes the words of this prayer in His own sorrowful prayer to his Father in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:38-39)
Jesus, the Son of God, puts God his Father’s will even before his own will. Jesus lives out the words of this prayer. He does God’s will by healing the sick, welcoming the outcast, and forgiving sinners.
God’s Kingdom comes when we practice the same love and forgiveness that we have experienced from God. We pray: “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We do not “earn” God’s forgiveness by forgiving “those who trespass against us.” It is rather the overwhelming experience of God’s love and forgiveness that empowers us to forgive one another. God’s will is that we accept the gift of God’s love and forgiveness. We do not and cannot earn this love and forgiveness. It is a gift for us to accept with gratitude. We show gratitude to God by striving to forgive one another.
We are not perfect and God does not expect us to be perfect. Each time we say this pray we are asking God to guide us to know and do His will and to empower us to at least begin to forgive. Let us pray, “Our Father… Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.