Lord Teach us to Pray

17^th Sunday C (Lk 11:1-13)

I.In the Gospel, it is clear that the Apostles were asking Jesus for a prayer to be memorized. Na puede nilang gamitin habitually – at ito nga “the Lord’s Prayer or the Our Father”. A model or a sample of how to pray.

II.This prayer is divided into two parts:

1.The Invocation, it begins by calling God, Father. Bakit Father? Ano ba ang “father”?

o    A father is one who gives life, the source of life. A father is one who willingly gives security, protection and care to his children;  one who willingly supplies the needs of his children. At di na kailangang kulitin pa o pilitin pa. Yan ang “father”.

o    and when we pray to God, hindi tayo lumalapit sa isang Diyos, na kailangan pang pilitin o kulitin, para makuha natin ang gusto natin. But to a Father who willingly and delightly supplies the needs of his children. Di na kailangang kulitin o pilitin.

o    Dito, the lesson of the parable is not about persistence in prayer (pangungulit). Na kailangan pang kalabugin ang pinto ng langit, hanggang sa ito bumigay. The lesson of the parable is, kung ang isang unwilling magbigay, at the end, bumibigay din. Ano pa kaya ang Diyos, like a loving Father, na willing na willing magbigay? Di na kailangang pilitin pa.

2.The Petitions.  Also divided into two parts:

-          what we want for God. Kung ano ang gusto natin para sa kanya. Ano ang mga ito? “Holy be your name”; “Your kingdom come”; “Your will be done” etc.

-          in other words, una, God’s presence. Pananahan ng Diyos sa atin, pananatili niya sa piling natin. Pangalawa, that God will be recognized and worshipped by people everywhere.

-          what we want for ourselves. Kung ano ang gusto natin para sa ating mga sarili.

-          Material things that we need in this life. Praying to God for help, reminds us of our total dependence on God. Na lahat ay galing at mula sa kanya. Kaya kailangan natin siya.

-           Forgiveness for our sins. Alam ni Hesus na palagi tayong magkakasala at habang buhay magkakasala. At sinasabi din ni Hesus, palagi din tayong mapapatawad ng Diyos. Ang kondisyon lang ay matuto ka ring magpatawad.

-          Fatherly protection in the days to come. Temptation is a part of life. Although man is created good, he is inclined towards evil.

At ito mga kapatid, ang model or sample of  “how” to pray. We begin by calling God, Father. Then we pray for what we want for God, and what we want for ourselves.

II.Mga kapatid, in prayer, we let God be God. Because , He knows best what is best for us. Perhaps at the moment, we do not understand, we look for explanations, kung bakit may gusto tayo na hindi ibinibigay. Pero siguradong may dahilan.

-          E.g. CHRIST CRUCIFIED – if ever God the Father allowed his Son to suffer and die on the Cross. For sure he allowed that for some great reasons.

-          Mga kapatid, when we pray, we do not expect God to answer our prayers the way we want, but the way He wants.

-          “Man proposes, God disposes” __ when we pray, we open ourselves to many possibilities.