Pater Nosterhttp://catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/August%201st.htmlSt. Luke tells us (xl. i) that the Lord's Prayer was taught by Our Lord to His Apostles at their own request. What led them to make such a request?
(1) The instinct of their hearts taught them the need of a constant dependence on God, and they knew that prayer is the expression of that dependence. I, too, can do nothing good unless I depend on God, and express my sense of that dependence by frequent prayer. (2) They were not satisfied with the traditional prayer of Judaism. They knew that their Master had come to teach men a higher doctrine. So our prayer corresponds to our spiritual level. If it is a high one, we shall pray much and well; if a low one, little and badly. (3) They had witnessed the fervent prayer of Christ. They knew that He prayed before entering on any new work. They had seen Him spend long nights in prayer. Does His example teach us to commend all our enterprises to God in prayer?
"Lord, teach us to pray." They knew they had not yet learned the lesson. To pray well did not come naturally to them. Jesus had to teach them. Have I ever really learned to pray? If not, I must cry out: "Lord, teach me to pray"; to pray without distractions, to pray boldly, perseveringly, earnestly, humbly.
"Lord, teach us to pray." The Apostles had good-will and needed only instruction. Their great desire was to pray well. Am I of the same disposition, or am I one of those who knows well enough how I ought to pray, but will not take the trouble, nor yield to prayer the time I spend in other occupations that I find more attractive and easy?
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