The gospel for Wednesday of the 27th week in Ordinary Time is taken from Luke 11. Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of the disciples said to him, lord, teach us to pray. Just as John taught his disciples. He said to them, when you pray, say, father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us and do not subject us to the final test. It’s fascinating that the only prayer that Jesus taught his disciples was so concise in heading the core of what we’re here for.

We are here to honor who God is and long for the work that he gives us to be accomplished of establishing his kingdom. And he feeds us and gives us everything we need. But most important of all, he has mercy on us. He forgives our sins. That’s the heart of the message of God. Take a few moments to reflect on these thoughts and then I will close with a prayer.

Foreign closing prayer. Father, everything you teach is for us to bring us into a participation with you in saving the world. Help us to know and understand what you ask. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.