Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)
17th Sunday of the Year (C), July 28, 2013 (edited)
Liturgical readings
Genesis 18:20-32
Psalm 138
Colossians 2:12-14
Luke 11:1-13
Gospel Reflection
"Lord, teach us to pray."
Jesus took the occasion to teach about prayer in this Sunday's gospel passage. In the passage, one of the Lord's disciples asked Jesus how they are to pray. This is how Jesus proceeded. First, He taught the "Our Father" (Lk 11:2-4) - from which the Pater Noster, as formulated today in the form familiar to us in the Mass, comes from. Second, He proceeds to tell a parable (Lk 11:5-8) - emphasizing the importance of persistence in prayer. And Lastly, He teaches the importance of faith in prayer (Lk 11:9-13) - faith in a heavenly Father who knows how to give his children what they need, when they "ask and seek" Him in prayer.
That gospel story of Jesus teaching His disciples, is one source from which the Church continues the mission of Jesus to teach about prayer. As the community of Christians brought this tradition of prayer to mission areas, this tradition of prayer became inculturated in the many cultures that accepted the Christian life. Below are excerpts from Italian and French Saints who extended the teaching of Jesus on praying the "Our Father" to other truths about prayer:
The Holy Spirit is the teacher of prayer. He enables us to
live in perfect peace and constant joy, which is a foretaste
of paradise. (St. Philip Neri)
As often as you become conscious of these promptings to good
in your hearts, give glory to God and reverence the Holy Spirit
whose voice is sounding in your ears. (St. Bernard of Clairvaux)
Ask God to give you the grace of prayer...ask him ceaselessly
It is an alms that you beg of him. It is not possible, if you
persevere, for him to refuse you. (St. Vincent de Paul)
The grace of prayer taught by Jesus in the "Our Father" is a very precious gift. It is the most basic prayer that completes other forms of prayer. Many fail to see its importance in daily life. But it is what gives life to the soul. Prayer feeds every baptized believer with the faith, hope, and love to do God's will. It is a gift that we receive from the Holy Spirit. It brings the peace and joy that often eludes those who are excessively active in the world. It leads anyone to a God who keeps us balanced, to be contemplative and active in a way that makes us productive and life-giving instruments to all we work and live with. Prayer makes us see a Father who is holy, and whose will and dominion spans the earth and the heavens. The grace of prayer reveals a God who provides for all His children, who in humility, understand His will for every step they need to take.
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