Devotion to God's Word and Prayer

Reflection on Today's Readings, Tuesday, 1st Week of Lent B, February 23rd, 2021
Texts: Is. 55:10-11; Ps. 34:4-7.16-19; Mtt. 6:7-15
Today's first reading invites us to put our trust in God's word, for it is ever true and does not fail in what it is sent to accomplish. It tells us that the word of God is meant to make us fruitful and pleasing to God just as rain and snow make earth bring forth and sprout, give seed to the sower and bread to the eater.  The God's word makes us bring forth goodness sprout newness. To sprout means to send out new growth. This means God's word renews us and make us bring forth newness. These works the word of God is sent to accomplish in our lives, it will not fail in it.
The word of God is the projection of Himself; as with God nothing is impossible, so also with His word nothing is impossible. The word of God is almighty as God Himself is almighty, for God externalizes Himself in His word. Hence, God exalts His word and honour it (Ps. 138:2). When we are cut off from God's word, we are cut off from God. We cannot claim to be close to God when we are far away from His word; the farther we are from God's word, the farther we are from God. If we want to experience God's power, we should pay heed to His word; His power is experienced through His word. During this Lent we are to intensify our devotion to God's word, so as to experience renewal, so as to be fruitful, so as to experience God's power and grace.
Today's gospel reading invites to pray and pray worthily. We are not to pray in such a way that shows that  the efficacy or power of prayer depends on our choice of words, composition of words or how long we pray. Hence, Jesus says, "In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." The efficacy or  power of prayer is dependent on God; it is God that answers prayer. In the gospel reading, Jesus teaches us that in praying we should raise our minds to heaven, for that is what happens when we say, "our Father who art in heaven". And our minds cannot be raised to heaven when our treasures are not there, for He says, "For wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be too" (Mt. 6:21). This is a call to lay our treasures in heaven. We must also hold His name holy by embracing the life of holiness. We cannot claim to keep the name of God holy when we indulge in sin. We must not drag the  name of God in the mud by our ways of life. We must also desire and work to realize His kingdom and to bring about His will in our lives and in the world. We are also reminded to only ask for our needs, not wants; for that is what "our daily bread" means. Asking for only the day's bread teaches us to hope in God for tomorrow, to trust in His providence. We are to also forgive our neighbours as God always forgives us our sins. Emphasis is placed on this point when He says, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." We need to forgive others for our own good and benefit. Forgiveness opens us up to God's mercy and forgiveness.

Lord our God, inspire in us the devotion to your word and grant us the grace to pray and pray worthily. Amen

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke