Monday, August 12, 2013
544. How does Jesus teach us to pray? (part 2 continuation)
(Comp 544 repetition) Jesus teaches us to pray not only with the Our Father but also when he
prays. In this way he teaches us, in addition to the content, the dispositions
necessary for every true prayer: purity of heart that seeks the Kingdom and
forgives one’s enemies, bold and filial faith that goes beyond what we feel and
understand, and watchfulness that protects the disciple from temptation.
“In brief”
(CCC 2621) In his teaching, Jesus teaches his disciples to
pray with a purified heart, with lively and persevering faith, with filial
boldness. He calls them to vigilance and invites them to present their
petitions to God in his name. Jesus Christ himself answers prayers addressed to
him.
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 2610) Just as Jesus prays to the Father and gives
thanks before receiving his gifts, so he teaches us filial boldness: "Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you
receive it, and you will" (Mk 11:24). Such is the power of prayer and of
faith that does not doubt: "all things are possible to him who
believes" (Mk 9:23; cf. Mt 21:22). Jesus is as saddened by the "lack
of faith" of his own neighbors and the "little faith" of his own
disciples (Cf. Mk 6:6; Mt 8:26) as he is struck with admiration at the great
faith of the Roman centurion and the Canaanite woman (Cf. Mt 8:10; 15:28). (CCC
2611) The prayer of faith consists not only in saying "Lord, Lord,"
but in disposing the heart to do the will of the Father (Cf. Mt 7:21). Jesus
calls his disciples to bring into their prayer this concern for cooperating
with the divine plan (Cf. Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2; Jn 4:34).
Reflection
(CCC 2612) In Jesus "the Kingdom of God is at
hand" (Mk 1:15). He calls his hearers to conversion and faith, but also to
watchfulness. In prayer the disciple
keeps watch, attentive to Him Who Is and Him Who Comes, in memory of his first
coming in the lowliness of the flesh, and in the hope of his second coming in
glory (Cf. Mk 13; Lk 21:34-36). In communion with their Master, the disciples'
prayer is a battle; only by keeping watch in prayer can one avoid falling into
temptation (Cf. Lk 22:40, 46). [IT
CONTINUES]
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