We must pray and we must do, in order for God’s Will to come into the world.

   God wills the salvation of all mankind, but we must cooperate with Him.  We must lay it at His feet in prayer and then do as we are instructed.  Prayer is a two-way conversation with God.  When we treat it as a one-way vending machine, we have missed the point.  The point is to unite ourselves to God in an intimate conversation.

   But the conversation loses much, if not all, of its power if it does not change us and direct us.  We are to listen in order for us to fulfill the words, “Thy Will be done.”  Only when we listen can we know God’s will in order to fulfill it.  To some extent, it is asking God to accomplish His will, but it is part of the child's promises.

   “Our Father” – ‘Hey Dad’

   “Hallowed be Thy Name” – ‘You are the best Dad’

   “Thy Kingdom come” – ‘I will follow all Your rules’

   “Thy Will be done” – ‘I will do whatever you ask’

   Only after that, do we rightly demand from Our Father that He fulfill His Fatherhood to us: “Give us this day, our daily bread”, “Forgive us our trespasses”, “Lead us not into temptation”, and “Deliver us from evil.”  This all pertains to God’s Fatherhood.  We are baptized into becoming God’s children.  And with that, comes responsibilities.  Responsibilities for us and for God.

   Heavenly Father, You do well to take care of all our needs and ensure that we are given the graces needed to accept You as Our Father for all of eternity.  Help us when we fail to do so and when our attempts do not measure up.  Amen.