Thy will be done!

Ave Maria!  This week in the Office of Readings from the Liturgy of the Hours, the second readings are from the Treatise on the Lord's Prayer by St. Cyprian.  This bishop and martyr is often remembered for having said that "You cannot have God for your Father if you do not have the Church for your mother." In yesterday's reading from this particular treatise, St. Cyprian spells out clearly and concisely what it means for us, the sons and daughters of our Father, to do God's will.  And we must do what we pray for.  It is not enough for me simply to pray "Thy will be done."  I must exert myself mightily in every way possible to carry out God's will here and now, confident that whatever my Father asks of me He gives me the grace to do.  Otherwise I become one of those babbling pagans that our Lord speaks of in today's gospel (Mt 6:7-15) when he teaches his followers to pray "Our Father..."

"Now that is the will of God which Christ both did and taught.

Humility in conversation;

steadfastness in faith;

modesty in words;

justice in deeds;

mercifulness in works;

discipline in morals;

to be unable to do a wrong, and to be able to bear a wrong when done;

to keep peace with the brethren;

to love God with all one’s heart;

to love Him in that He is a Father;

to fear Him in that He is God;

to prefer nothing whatever to Christ, because He did not prefer anything to us;

to adhere inseparably to His love;

to stand by His cross bravely and faithfully;

when there is any contest on behalf of His name and honour, to exhibit in discourse that constancy wherewith we make confession; in torture, that confidence wherewith we do battle; in death, that patience whereby we are crowned;

—this is to desire to be fellow-heirs with Christ;

this is to do the commandment of God;

this is to fulfil the will of the Father."

~St. Cyprian, Treatise IV, On the Lord's Prayer

Dear Jesus, teach me to pray as You prayed to the Father.  Amen.