Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 11, 1-13
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.”
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 him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.
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.
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?”
Teach us to pray
1. Luke’s wisdom. Two Sundays ago, through the parable of the good Samaritan, Luke taught us that the key to Christian life is to help our brothers and sisters, no matter what the situation may be. After that gospel, we read about Martha and Mary, where he clarifies that in order to have the capacity to help and serve, we need to be close to God and to listen to Him; that is the most important part. This Sunday he adds one more point; to serve and to have that capacity to give oneself to others, one needs a close dialogue with God, ever insistent and constant. That is why he speaks of praying and not simply reciting a prayer. To pray is to be in dialogue with the Lord, not merely to repeat words.
2. Persistence. Jesus reminds you that along the path of your life there are difficult and confusing moments, and that is when you should pray insistently, placing yourself in God’s hands and abandoning yourself to Him. But talk to him and tell him what you are experiencing and feeling. Never leave aside your time with God. Even though all your day should be a prayer because Christ is with you at all times, find a moment to be alone with Him.
3. Give good things. I do not doubt that you want to give your best, but it is important to know that you should always analyze your life and ask yourself, ‘Am I doing things right? Do I repent of something?’ I believe that there are moments when we do repent, because if we do not, it means that pride has taken over us. Seek peace in your heart, every repentant and prayerful heart achieves it. Always give the best of yourself.
God bless you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Never forget that Heaven is our goal.
