In today's gospel, Luke 11:1-13, the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. Rather than give them some long discourse on the act of praying, Jesus offers them a simple and straightforward prayer, a prayer that Christians all over the world continue to pray to this day. Although it is simple, The Lord's Prayer covers all our needs; it is the only prayer we need to pray.
Many of us approach God in prayer with a long list of all our wants, our cares and our concerns. Sometimes we try to tell God what to do, how to do it and when to get the job done - usually immediately. The truth is that God knows what our needs are better than we do. So, rather than rattle off all our wants, cares and concerns, Jesus presents us with an alternative. He suggests that we acknowledge God's holiness, goodness and love and ask that God's kingdom becomes a reality in our lives. Instead of worrying about the future, Jesus tells us to pray for our needs today, "Give us each day our daily bread." Then we should ask God for forgiveness remembering that God expects us to forgive. And finally, we pray for God's mercy and protection.
Our prayer should not be an attempt to impose our will on God. It is an opportunity for us to ask for the grace to allow God's will to work in our lives.
Across the centuries, heavenly Father,
on countless lips and in every tongue
the prayer of your Son resounds.
Yet we who know the words so well
need still to learn their power.
Give us your Holy Spirit
so that our prayer may be filled
with childlike trust and unwavering perseverance.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
AMEN.
