Matthew 6:7-15 | Lorenzo Quinn | Your Father knows what you need before you ask him

Matthew 6:7-15   Your Father knows what you need before you ask him

Building Bridges, Sculpture Installation by Lorenzo Quinn (born 1966), White painted fibreglass, Installation executed in 2019 © Lorenzo Quinn / Venice Biennale Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So you should pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us. And do not put us to the test, but save us from the evil one. ‘Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.’   READ MORE     Reflection on the Sculpture Installation The word “Lent” means “lengthen” and indicates that time in Spring when the days grow longer. Lent is therefore a time of spiritual renewal, a type of “spiritual spring,” when a soul is renewed and cleansed of all impurities. It is therefore good to also approach the Our Father, as Christ is teaching us in today’s reading, with renewed fervour, freshness and depth. Jesus tells us that praying the ‘Our Father’ reminds us that God is the father of us all, and therefore every human person is truly our brother or sister. But the words at the start of the reading where we hear that God the Father already knows what we need before we even ask Him, have always puzzled me. If Our Father already knows our every need, why should we even present them to Him in prayer? St. Augustine answers that question by saying that whilst we pray, God is moulding our heart and soul, so that we will be prepared to receive the good things He desires to give us in answer to our prayers. By praying we become aware that we have needs that only God can grant us. Our artwork today is by Lorenzo Quinn, made for the Venice Biennale in 2019. Called ‘Building Bridges’, the giant sculpture consists of six pairs of hands joining across the waters, with each pair representing an essential value: Friendship, Wisdom, Help, Faith, Hope and Love. The artist wanted to symbolise how people can overcome their differences by joining hands across dividing waters. The praying hands are the first ones in the row of six. From these praying hands, the rest flows… by Patrick van der Vorst