Gospel Reflection for 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 24th – Teach us to Pray

While it may sound like stating the obvious, any relationship needs communication if it is to grow and develop. I not only need to speak to the other person, I also need to take time to listen to what the other person has to say to me. This communication takes patience and perseverance.

Jesus understood this at a deep level. Several times in the gospels we read that he went off to a quiet place where he prayed. He often prayed before he spent time with people or after he was teaching and healing. He realised deeply where is strength came from.

His disciples saw him praying and eager to follow his example asked him to teach them how to pray as John prayed. But Jesus cannot do this; he can only teach to them pray as he himself prays. So in sharing with them the ‘Our Father’, he also shares with them the very personal relationship he has with God the Father. This is his gift to them and to each of us.

Prayer is not so much about saying lots of words as about creating and maintaining a close friendship with our loving God. Prayer is as much about listening to God as it is talking to God! Prayer is a very dangerous thing to do! When we pray we are not trying to change God, it is about be open to God changing us! Every time we pray the ‘Our Father’ we pray ‘may your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.’ This means that we are ready to build and promote God’s kingdom, not our own.

When we pray and precisely because we pray we are called to turn our eyes to our brothers and sister who are in need. Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was martyred in El Salvador said, ‘The guarantee of one’s prayer is not saying lots of words. The guarantee of one’s prayer is very easy to know: how do I treat the poor? – because that is where God is. What you do to them, you do to God. The way you look at them is the way you look at God.’ As we pray this week, let us ask for the strength to be open to God touching our hearts, changing our lives and changing how we treat each other.

• Michael Moore OMI