JESUS, THE MASTER “PRAY-ER”
Luke’s
Gospel has been traditionally called the “Gospel of Prayer.” It often
shows Jesus in prayer and today’s Gospel episode is certainly no
exception.
It
is significant that Jesus Himself would pray. In this particular case,
it may have triggered one of His disciples to ask Him, “Lord, teach us
to pray.”
To
this request, Jesus acceded, but not by delivering a lecture on the
theology or by conducting a workshop on the techniques of prayer. What
He did was so simple and direct to the point: He taught His disciples
how to pray by offering them a model prayer. It’s a formula, actually,
which has come down to us as well: no other than the “Our Father” (or
better yet, “The Lord’s Prayer”).
While
it is a most handy prayer to use anytime, we should also set aside
private moments for our personal, spontaneous prayer. It’s that kind of
prayer (just like Jesus’) which proves “irresistible” to one who sees it
actualized. But at the same time, prayer formulas are also still
useful. They can be a “fallback option” should we sometimes find
ourselves at a loss for words in our prayer. Or children, for example,
can be “drilled” into reciting prayer-formulas as a good start for them
to learn how to pray.
Jesus
is indeed the best ever master and teacher of prayer. From whom else
shall we learn how to pray? His method is both actual and real. He left
us a formula to follow and to use, and His example is no other than
Himself. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB
REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you have a regular time set aside each day for private prayer? If none, it would be best to have one.
Father, thank You for teaching us to pray. Enkindle in me a desire to spend time with You each day in prayer.
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