During this first week of Lent, we begin our journey in the wilderness to deepen our relationship with the Lord by coming face to face with our sinfulness. We reflect on our desires examine our motives, adjust our priorities and evaluate our interactions.

To help, God gives us one of the greatest tools along with those of fasting and almsgiving -- the gift of prayer. Prayer is the vehicle of communication and conversation with our God. St. Teresa of Avila, the “Doctor of Prayer,” said that this unique gift involves relationship not an exercise of technique or method. Jesus taught us the “Our Father” to bring us into relationship with the Divine and to help us initiate and maintain a more intimate bond with the Triune God. 

He designed this prayer as a “how to” model for relationships, involving six petitions. Three petitions concern God and three concern us and neighbor, perhaps structured after the two great commandments (“Thy name, thy kingdom, thy will, give us, forgive us, deliver us”). We are told to seek God, God’s kingdom and God’s will through prayer first, and then we are taught to address our needs.  

To accomplish the changes of heart and deeds needed, we search to unite with God as all good works flow from this union. We begin our search for this reconciliation in the wilderness.