Prayer Tradition

Today’s Gospel Text: He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." 2 And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread; 4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation." 5 And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything'? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" 14 Now he was casting out a demon that was dumb; when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the people marveled. Luke 11:1-14

Reflection: "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." (vs. 1)

Many of our Catholics do not know how to pray. They may pray and pray and yet they do not know how to pray the way God wants us to pray. They will only stick to by heart prayers or the Lord’s Prayer and would not go further on to communicate with the living God, who longs to relate with this his children.

Some of them even join the seminary and become priests, still not knowing how to pray and what to pray.

As compensation, in eastern countries like India, they are introduced to eastern meditational techniques as if these abstracts techniques are prayer methods.

Some of them may even use the name of Jesus and deceitfully compare them with sound Catholic writings and traditions. Yet in no way can it be called Christian in the authentic sense of the term.

No one can call himself a successor of the Apostle if they do not carry on this tradition and teach the flock how to relate to God in prayer in the authentic Catholic tradition. They can only be termed as imposters and shepherds who come to steal, kill and destroy. (cfr.Jn. 10:10) 

  

“This is why it is a fundamental task of pastoral care to teach people how to pray and how to learn to do so personally, better and better. Today, schools of prayer and prayer groups exist; it is obvious that people want them. Many seek meditation elsewhere because they think that they will not be able to find a spiritual dimension in Christianity. We must show them once again not only that this spiritual dimension exists but that it is the source of all things.” (ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI Thursday, 9 November 2006, to the Bishops of Switzerland)

The importance of prayer is seen in the great tradition revealed in scripture; “as John taught his disciples” (vs. 1c). So the tradition did not start with Jesus but existed even before him and continues approvingly with the dedicated disciples of Jesus, even to this day.

Every true servant of the Kingdom, no matter how active they may be, is so by virtue of their proximity with God in prayer and passes on the same tradition to their disciples.

Prayer: Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples (Lk. 11: 1)

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