LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY: OUR FATHER
Introduction: The disciples observed Jesus praying. There must have been something very special about His prayer. That's why they ask Him: "Teach us to pray. Teach us to pray as you are praying." Jesus teaches them the prayer 'Our Father'. There is more to His answer than just saying the 'Our Father'. Jesus urges us to come to the Father, and with child-like confidence, to pray to Him for all our spiritual and temporal needs.
First Reading: Genesis 18: 20 to 32
Second Reading: Colossians 2: 12 to 14
Gospel Reading: Luke 11: 1 to 12
*First reading is from the book of Genesis. Abraham prays to the Lord God for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. People of those cities have grievously sinned against the Lord God. Those two rebellious and wicked cities are going to be destroyed. Abraham intercedes and pleads with the Lord God to spare them from destruction. Even if the number of righteous in them are as few as fifty/forty- five/forty/twenty or merely ten, Abraham wants the Lord God to be merciful to them and forgive their many sins. The Lord God promises Abraham that for the sake of the righteous persons as few as ten, in those cities, He will not destroy them.
*Second reading is from St. Paul's letter to Colossians. Paul explains to the Christian community in Colossia that, in baptism, they are buried with Christ and are raised with Him. Hence, through baptism, a believer is inserted into Christ's death and resurrection. Thus a baptized person, once and for all, dies to the sinful way of life and is raised to live a new life of grace.
The Lord's Prayer Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Jesus teaches the prayer 'Our Father' to His disciples. It is a prayer for all times and for all occasions. Every relationship between us and our heavenly Father is taken care of in the prayer. The aspects that Jesus considers and that we too should consider include the following: 1. Acceptance of God as our heavenly Father and due praise to Him. 2. Praying for our daily needs: Food in particular. 3. Praying that we may forgive others so that we in turn receive forgiveness from God. 4. Praying that we may be able to overcome our temptations: For no one can say that we are not tempted. 5. Praying for deliverance from the power of evil. When we pray the prayer 'Our Father' or any other prayer, let us sincerely ask for what we need but let us be contented with what the Lord grants us. In this context, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta says: "If we pray, we will believe; if we believe, we will love; if we love, we will serve." St. Augustine says: "Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." Mahatma Gandhi says: "Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is a daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart." And Joyce Meyer says: "Prayer doesn't change things- it changes us. If we are diligent in seeking God, slowly and surely we become better people."
Conclusion: In his book Our prayer, Louis Evely suggests how we can find meaning in every circumstance of our lives, even in tragedies. God does not cause them, but He shows us how to overcome them. He writes: "God does not prevent disasters or death; He is with us in them. He offers us the grace to be happier poor than we would have been rich; to be happier in misfortune than when everything is going well." So we need to be persistent in our prayer no matter what happens. Ask for what we really need from the Lord. The Lord grants it.
May the Lord Jesus who taught His disciples and us the prayer 'Our Father' bless you always with His heavenly blessings and answer your prayers in all your needs. Amen.
(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph. July 27, 2025)
No comments:
Post a Comment