“Today, Jesus teaches us a prayer we know by heart—the Lord’s Prayer. Because it is so familiar, we often recite it without realizing that it is also a Lenten program for conversion.
If we listen carefully, the Lord’s Prayer gives us three very concrete challenges for Lent.
1. Trust God as Father
We begin with: “Our Father.”
The first challenge of Lent is trust.
Lent is not only about discipline or sacrifice. It is about learning to trust God again—especially when life feels uncertain.
Many of our worries come from trying to control everything: our future, our security, even other people.
When we say “Our Father,” we are letting go and saying: “Lord, I trust You. You know my life.”
Lenten challenge: Let go of one fear or anxiety you have been carrying and entrust it to God in prayer.
2. Live One Day at a Time with God
We pray: “Give us today our daily bread.”
Notice the word today.
Lent invites us to simplicity—to depend on God one day at a time, not to be consumed by tomorrow’s worries or endless desires.
This prayer challenges our greed, our anxiety, and our constant need for more.
Lenten challenge: Practice contentment. Be grateful for what you have today and resist unnecessary excess.
3. Forgive as You Have Been Forgiven
Then we pray: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
This is the hardest part of the prayer—and the heart of Lent.
We cannot ask God for mercy while refusing mercy to others.
Sometimes the real fasting of Lent is not from food, but from anger, resentment, and bitterness.
Lenten challenge: Ask yourself: Whom do I need to forgive? And take one step—small but sincere—toward forgiveness.
Final Thoughts
The Lord’s Prayer is not just words to memorize. It is a path for Lent:
- Trust God as Father
- Live simply, one day at a time
- Choose forgiveness over resentment
If we live these three challenges, then Lent will not just change our routines—it will change our hearts.”