Our Father – Meeting Point of Evangelical Counsels

In this article, I will show our father as the convergence of community life and evangelical counsels 

(Obedience, Poverty and Chastity)

Our Father in Heaven: It stresses the community life. Though, each member in the community completely different from the other, come under the same identity as Salsesians or Capuchins, or Jesuits for the same goal of Serving the Christ in the people. The difference is no more a barrier but a unique contribution from the individual to the community in bringing the gospel.

Your will be Done: It stresses the vow of obedience. It is fulfilling the will of God at all times. It calls for a total surrender to the Lord. As long as I do according to my will, nothing happens as Jesus himself said “Apart from me you can do nothing.” As human being, it is good to remember that each one is only an instrument in the hands of God. 

Give us Today Our Daily Bread: It stresses the vow of poverty. It calls for dependence on God everyday. This dependence on God must help us to share out our everything for the good and benefit of the other. We should share first of all our time, energy, talents with generosity with the hope that God provides for us.

Do not Bring us to the Test: It stresses the vow of Chastity. Chastity is unlimited love for God and unlimited love for human being. It is calling on God for deliverance from all the evils at all the times. It advices to move from “freedom of sin to freedom for liberation.”  It is a huge task, which requires every minute attention.

            At last, we (Religious) remember that every time we recite the prayer  Our Father we are renewing our commitment to the Lord.