The Fifth Petition: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us
While praying this petition, we acknowledge our sinfulness before God, our Father, like the prodigal son, and ask for his forgiveness (Cf. Luke 15:11-32). The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “… in this new petition, we return to him like the prodigal son and like the tax collector, recognize that we are sinners before him. Our Petition begins with a “confession” of our wretchedness and his mercy. Our hope is firm because, in his Son, “we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins”” (CCC #2839). Nevertheless, the requirement for the fulfilment of this petition is that we forgive those who have offended us.
Sixth Petition: Lead us not into temptation
Sin is the consequence of yielding to the temptations. Hence, in this petition we ask Our Heavenly Father to protect us from being led into temptations. “…We are engaged in the “battle between flesh and spirit”; this petition implores the Spirit of discernment and strength” (CCC #2846). We need to pray, so that we may overcome the temptations that we encounter in our daily life. Just as Jesus prevailed over the devil, who tempted Him at the end of his fasting & prayer for forty days (Cf. Matthew 4:11), victory over the temptations is possible for us only with the power of prayer. In this petition to our heavenly Father, Christ unites us to his battle and his agony (Cf. CCC #2849).
Seventh Petition: But deliver us from evil
In the Gospel according to St. John, Chapter 17 is said to be Jesus’ priestly prayer. In this prayer, He prays for his disciples, for unity and for the future Christians. One of the petitions, that Jesus places before His Father in his priestly prayer is: “I do not pray that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, the word evil in this petition is not an abstraction, but it refers to a person, Satan, the evil one, who opposes God and tries to destroy the work of salvation accomplished by Christ (Cf. CCC #2851).
God bless you
Fr. Arul Joseph V.