Mary The Queen Parish--Philippines

God calls us to be faithful in word and deed

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus teaches us by example and by word about prayer. He teaches us first by his example.

The gospel reading begins: “One day, Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he had finished, one of his disciples asked him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’”

Jesus was a person of prayer. He is often presented by St. Luke as praying. As a boy, he went to the Temple in Jerusalem to pray. It was his custom to go to the synagogues to worship like any other devout Jew.

He was praying after his baptism when the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove and the Father bore witness to him. He spent many days in prayer in the desert before actively preaching. Before he chose his disciples, he spent a whole night in prayer. Again, before he asked his disciples who they thought he was, he prayed while walking on the road.

Prayer was a mark of Jesus, and so it is not surprising that his final words from the cross is a prayer to God, commending himself to the Father’s hands. He who would be like Jesus should also be a person of prayer like him.

Jesus teaches us also by his words. And here, Jesus today asks his disciples to pray persistently and confidently, assuring them of being answered: “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find, knock and it shall be opened to you.”

But have we not often experienced that we have asked persistently and confidently and did not get what we asked for? In situations like this, we should remember that the Lord will give us what we need, what is good for us, and not necessarily what we want. And so, when we ask in the name of Jesus, it means that we ask in union with his disposition or submit himself to the will of God, our Father.

Making prayer a daily habit means that we appreciate its importance and are prepared to make room for it in a busy routine. Prayer is talking to God, and when we pray we are to speak out what is in our hearts in a real human way, making use of the style which suites us best.

Prayer is the oil that keeps the lamp of faith burning brightly, drawing us closer to God and enabling us to produce good works.

Prayer is the lubricating oil that keeps the machine of our spiritual life running smoothly. Join in the prayer of the Church, especially the Eucharist. Pray in your homes with your families. Pray alone in a quiet corner of your home or of the church. Pray even when going to work or school, or even while working, some simple and short prayer like, “Jesus, I trust in you,” Jesus, I love you,” “Jesus, thank you,” “Jesus, all for you.” Always use the word “Jesus”. It is so very powerful.

Love to pray. Feel often during the day the need for prayer, and take the trouble to pray. Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God’s gift of himself.