“Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” 

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Jesus has just finished praying when one of his disciples approached him and asked that he teach them how to pray just as John had taught his disciples. Right away Jesus replies, “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” (Lk 11:2-4). 

As we can see, prayer according to Jesus, is an act that stems from a relationship of love and intimacy with God. It is a family affair where the children approach the Father of the House— God, and speak to him from their hearts. The image of God as a Father is something that should gladden our hearts and encourage us to speak to him often because his relationship with us is based on affection, love, compassion and intimacy, not on power, authority or enslavement. 

To pray therefore is to place ourselves in a position whereby we see God as our Father, and we speak to him as his sons and daughters. To pray is to speak to God. Someone might ask, about what? We speak to him about our joys and sorrows, successes and failures, worries and expectations, dreams and aspirations, strengths and weaknesses. We also speak to him with words of praise and thanksgiving. We speak to God about everything that is important to us and about everyone that is dear to us. Like children, let us make it a habit to approach our Father in heaven and talk to him, believing that he hears us and he will do what is best for us. No prayer is a waste. No prayer is ever unheard. God hears all our prayers; so believe that he will always do for us what he sees is the best for us. 

As you pray, remember to seek for the intercession of the Blessed Mother Mary and the saints.