Reflections on Scriptures Seventeenth Sunday Ordinary Gospel Reflections C

By 11:29 AM



Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test."

 

Luke’s version is shorter than the traditional one we fine in Matthew’s Gospel.           Notice Jesus says we should begin our prayer with praise and adoration of God before           petition. He presents three teachings to the disciples on communal prayer.
What are the three areas we ask the Father’s help in when we pray the Lord’s Prayer?
And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.

  The parable that Jesus uses emphasizes the need to be persistent in prayer. How persistent are we in our prayer to God?          It is not that God needs to be reminded of our needs, but that we recognize of our total  dependency on God for everything."And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 


There is a certainty in Jesus’ teaching on prayer. What is the basis of that certainty? What is the connection between the Our Father and this certainty?
What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"


 That certainty is based on the love of the Father for us. He only gives us good things even when we ask for something that is not good for us.
The greatest gift the Father desires for us is the gift of himself in the person of the Holy Spirit. This is the gift Jesus promised to send after his resurrection and ascension.
What is the simple process for us to receive the Holy Spirit in a fuller way? Prayer.           What message do we apply to our daily lives from our reflection of this passage?

About the Author

Jesus said that we are to go to the ends of the world, proclaiming the Gospel of Salvation. Our recent Holy Fathers have urged us to use the social media to accomplish this task. This is just one attempt to respond to both calls. Join me in this effort.

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