One of his disciples said to Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say, Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come.”

When we call him “Our Father,” we are acknowledging his closeness, familiarity, tenderness, and protection over us.

By affirming “who art in heaven,” we declare his greatness, and from our smallness, we offer him profound respect and total admiration.

When we say “Hallowed be thy name,” we yearn for God’s name to be recognized by all. People will recognize God’s name by the way we, his children, reflect it.

And finally, by saying, “Thy kingdom come,” we are expressing our desire for God’s kingdom to come upon our lives, to order our paths, and to enjoy his peace.

Three phrases of great richness, which can lead us to deepen a genuine friendship with God.