Gen 18:20-32; Ps 137 (138); Col 2:12-14; Lk 11:1-13
How to pray
Dear friends, today is the seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C. The theme of the readings today is ‘how to pray.’ In the first reading, Abraham pleads with God on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah, and in the Gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. Prayer is the way human beings relate to God. In antiquity, before the major religions spread to all parts of the world, every tribe had its own way of relating to the supernatural or a higher power. From the depths of their hearts, human beings know that they are neither the center nor the apex of the universe. The more human beings discover about the world, the more they realize that they are like a speck of dust in the universe.
When we were baptized, we began a relationship with God. Basically, any typical relationship involves two parties. For a relationship to thrive, first, there must be a proper acquaintance between the parties. Since God already knows us, it is we who need to know Him. We know God through His Word and revelation. The catechesis of faith helps us to understand how God relates to us. Second, a good relationship requires that the parties be present with each other. Distance relationships have been known to be problematic, and many do not last long. Regular prayer at home, in the workplace, in small Christian communities, and worshiping in Church is how we remain close to God. Are you in a distant relationship with God?
Third, a good relationship requires every party to be actively involved. A relationship dies when one or both parties become passive. Our relationship with God requires us to play our part and not expect God to do everything for us. Being active means practicing godly values, such as love, forgiveness, hard work, charity, and justice, as well as being involved in works of faith. Occasional Sunday Mass or huge offerings and tithes cannot buy us God’s favour. God is always present; we are the ones who keep running away from him.
In the first reading, Abraham negotiated with God to spare the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because his nephew Lot lived there. Because of his relationship with God, Abraham was able to negotiate with God. One of the biggest assets one can have in this world is credibility. When we are in trouble with the authorities, we do not call just anyone to speak for us. We normally look for individuals who are credible to the concerned authority. As a priest, I receive many prayer requests and Mass intentions. Though praying for the people is one of my roles as a priest, the prayer requests always make me reflect on whether I have good standing before God. When people ask us to pray for them, they believe that we have a good standing before God.
Through baptism in Christ, we are made God’s children and members of His family. Faith unites people of different tribes, nations, and races, and thus we can say it is thicker than blood. The prayer of “Our Father” is brief, yet it sums up all human needs. The prayer can be summarized into various themes: First, the divine fatherhood and communion. It reminds us that God is a loving father and prayer is communal, ‘our father’. Second, God is to be revered and worshipped; we need to worship, submit to, and honour our common Father. Third, our livelihood (daily bread) depends on God’s providence and not on our wisdom. Fourth, the need to treat our brothers and sisters well (forgiving one another) if we want God to treat us the same way. Fifth, the need for God’s protection from the evil of this world. The question for reflection here is: Would you like it if all the things you do to others were done unto you, or if all that you say about them were said about you?
After teaching them how to frame their prayers, Jesus emphasizes the virtues of ‘patience’ and ‘persistence’ as important when praying. We are living in an epoch where everyone wants instant things: instant coffee, instant marriages, instant financial breakthroughs, etc. Sometimes God does not know where to find us so that He can give us answers to our prayer requests because we have no patience to wait for Him. To quench this thirst for instant results, today we have miracle entrepreneurs everywhere. Are you looking for instant fixes for problems you have accumulated over the years?
Dear friends, I invite you to reflect upon your relationship with God and see if it is healthy and helping you enjoy His gifts. Are you present, or are you in a distant relationship with God?
Have a blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 