11 October, 2023 | Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time (Optional Memoria St John XXIII)

 Gospel Lk 11:1-4

 

  Do you know how great St John XXIII was?

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."

Reflections:

Jesus tells us that God the Father knows what we need even before we ask. Yet Jesus teaches us to pray. In response to the disciples’ request to teach them to pray Jesus offers them a model prayer.  It is a prayer that comes from the heart of Jesus. This prayer invites us to address God as “Father” thus participates in his own intimate relationship with God.  He is calling us to trust God the Father. Only when we trust we can ask. When I trust I can tell the Father to help me not to over-stock provisions for tomorrow but share with those in need.  I know that my Father in heaven will see to my needs.

Activity:  

Pray with deep faith, “Lord help me to  trust you.”