Saturday, August 10, 2013
543. How did Jesus pray during his passion?
“In brief”
(CCC 2620) Jesus' filial prayer is the perfect model of
prayer in the New Testament. Often done in solitude and in secret, the prayer
of Jesus involves a loving adherence to the will of the Father even to the
Cross and an absolute confidence in being heard.
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 2605) When the hour had come for him to fulfill the
Father's plan of love, Jesus allows a glimpse of the boundless depth of his
filial prayer, not only before he freely delivered himself up (“Abba not my will, but yours.") (Lk
22:42), but even in his last words on
the Cross, whe… re prayer and the gift of self are but one: "Father,
forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Lk 23:34); "Truly, I
say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise" (Lk 23:43);
"Woman, behold your son" - "Behold your mother" (Jn
19:26-27); "I thirst." (Jn 19:28); "My God, My God, why have you
forsaken me?" (Mk 15:34; cf. Ps 22:2); "It is finished" (Jn
19:30); "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" (Lk 23:46)
until the "loud cry" as he expires, giving up his spirit (Cf. Mk
15:37; Jn 19:30b).
Reflection
(CCC 2606) All the troubles, for all time, of humanity
enslaved by sin and death, all the petitions and intercessions of salvation
history are summed up in this cry of the incarnate Word. Here the Father
accepts them and, beyond all hope, answers them by raising his Son. Thus is
fulfilled and brought to completion the drama of prayer in the economy of
creation and salvation. The Psalter gives us the key to prayer in Christ. In
the "today" of the Resurrection the Father says: "You are my
Son, today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your
heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession" (Ps 2:7-8; cf. Acts
13:33). The Letter to the Hebrews
expresses in dramatic terms how the prayer of Jesus accomplished the victory of
salvation: "In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and
supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from
death, and he was heard for his godly fear. Although he was a Son, he learned
obedience through what he suffered, and being made perfect, he became the
source of eternal salvation to all who obey him" (Heb 5:7-9).
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