Luke 11:5-13
The disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray, and the Lord says, “When you pray, say ‘Father, holy be your name.’” In prayer, we need to approach God as little children or as humble and receptive believers. God is the reason of our being and becoming, and He knows perfectly what is good for us. Actually, we don’t need to tell Him what to do to us because He knows what we need even before we ask Him. Nevertheless, Jesus encourages the disciples to say, “Give us today our daily bread.” When we pray, we include not only our personal needs but also the needs of other people. Intercessory prayers remain important because they are our way of showing love and concern for family, relatives and friends. Interestingly, Jesus also recommends that we pray for our enemies, perhaps to show that we don’t keep hatred in our hearts.
Intercessory prayers, no matter how significant, should not take all of our prayer time. On the contrary, prayer must be more of listening than of talking. It is in silencing ourselves that we could understand the will of God in our lives. Spiritual directors would tell us that the best form of prayer is bible reading or “lectio divina” – hearing God speaking to us in scriptures.
Today's gospel encourages us not only to possess the virtue of prayerfulness but also to learn the art of praying. Learning how to pray well would demand that we set a specific time during the day for bible reading and reflection. It doesn’t have to take too much time; even 15 minutes would already be meaningful. Find yourself a place that you cannot be disturbed – a private room, a small chapel or a garden. Start by invoking the Holy Spirit and by praying for enlightenment. Then, read a part of the bible (the gospel of the day is highly recommended) and follow it up with a moment of silence. In your reflection, you may ask these guide questions: What is God telling me in the gospel today? What does He want me to do? What does He want me to become? After your brief reflection, offer prayers for your friends and loved ones. Then, you may close your prayer time with an “Our Father”, a “Hail Mary” and a “Glory be.”
