THE ESSENCE OF PRAYER - Fr. Joel O. Jason

Anyone familiar with the Gospel knows that there are many times when the Apostles were not so “apostolic,” so to speak. There were times they were cowardly, lazy and acted like spoiled brats. Today’s Gospel (Luke 11:1-4), however, is one of those moments when they act like true followers of Jesus. Look at their request: “Lord, teach us how to pray.” They wanted to pray like Jesus. If I were one of the Apostles, I think I would have requested Jesus to teach me some magic so I can impress people on my own, or maybe a magic word or formula that God can never refuse to heed.

       What is prayer? In some other parts of Scripture, Jesus said, “Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you” (John 14:13). To ask in Jesus’ name is not a magic spell we cast on the Father, i.e., blackmailing God to act according to our liking. To pray in Jesus’ name is what the disciples requested in today’s Gospel. To pray like Jesus, to pray in His name, is to pray according to His heart, His mind, His will. Whatever we ask the Father in Jesus’ name will surely come to pass if it is according to the heart and mind of God.

       Prayer therefore is not so much a changing of the mind of God by a force that is irresistible. Prayer in its very essence is the changing of our hearts and minds, such that whenever we pray, we pray for what is true, beautiful and good. Prayer is conforming our hearts to God that even when our own desires are actually in conflict with His way and time, we remain steadfast in following Him.

       This is why Jesus asked us to pray daily, “Your will be done on earth as it in heaven.” Prayer is not conforming the mind of God to ours, whether  He likes it or not. Prayer is conforming ourselves to God — then everything else will follow. 

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Have you transitioned from seeing prayer as a transaction to a relationship?

 

Lord, may Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Amen.

GOSPEL READING TO DAY - Luke 11:1-4 - THE OUR FATHER

Lords prayerNow once he was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples’. He said to them, ‘Say this when you pray:

“Father, may your name be held holy,
your kingdom come;
give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us.
And do not put us to the test.”‘

Reflection on Luke 11: 1-4

In today’s gospel, Jesus Christ teaches us how to pray. He gives us a very simple way in which we can pray effectively. What matters in prayer is not the quantity but the quality. The Lord’s prayer gives us the core elements in our prayer: thanksgiving to God for his goodness to us; surrendering to God and trusting in his plans for our lives; living in his providence by asking him to provide only for our needs of the day; recognizing our sinfulness and asking for forgiveness while at the same time we forgive all those who have offended us; and finally, asking God to help us avoid anything that will lead us away from trusting and living in him. In this prayer, we see how God wants us to live. Apart from being a prayer, it is also the way a Christian should live his or her life. Our challenge today is to make this prayer a part of our own lives.