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Wednesday Gospel Reflection
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Some commentators will seize upon the number 7, which features prominently in Matthew’s Gospel: there are 7 beatitudes, 7 parables, 7 woes for the Pharisees – even the book is divided into 7 sections. Given the prevalence of 7, commentaries like the notes to the Jerusalem Bible suggest that Matthew may have added a 3rd petition – Thy will be done – and 7th petition – Deliver us from evil – to Luke’s basic text in order to arrive at the number 7
St. Augustine offers a markedly different explanation when he writes that Luke omitted the 3rd petition in order to help us understand it better by avoiding repetition. As for the 7th petition, St. Thomas explains in the Summa that, “Deliver us from evil,” is omitted by Luke, so that each one may know himself to be delivered from evil if he be not led into temptation.” (ST II-II q. 83, a. 9)
In either form, it is considered to be the paradigmatic prayer, the most important prayer, if you will, because it is the one that Jesus – God Himself – taught us. As early as the second century, Tertullian said it to be “truly the summary of the whole Gospel” and, a millennium later, St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that it is “the most perfect of prayers”, which each day we make our own.
By way of footnote: for some further reading about the Our Father, see Pope Benedict XV’s 2007 book “Jesus of Nazareth,” Part 1, Chapter 5, and Fr. Paul Murray OP’s work, “Praying with Confidence” – a discussion of St. Thomas Aquinas’ commentary.