Category: Teach Us To Pray

We must forgive in order to be forgiven. Jesus emphasizes the importance of forgiveness. As the First Letter of John reminds us, we are all sinners (cf. 1:8).

One of the essential characteristics of Christian life is seeking to encounter Christ’s loving mercy. We can really experience it only when we put it into practice ourselves. We can admire a person who parachutes off a plane, but we won’t understand the experience until we skydive ourselves. We grasp the true meaning of mercy when we forgive others. Our mercy will not be the same as Christ’s: He never sinned, and therefore he forgives us even though we don’t deserve it. 

If Christ has forgiven us, how can we dare not to forgive others?

Lord, teach me how to pray.

Prayer is the fruit of silence. Some people like to talk. They demand to be listened to, but they don’t have the same interest in listening. However, you usually can’t listen if you aren’t used to silence. St. Teresa of Calcutta once wrote that prayer is the fruit of silence. 

Jesus wants us to understand that prayer is more about listening than about talking. When you are with someone who knows much about a topic that interests you, you limit yourself to asking questions and dedicate yourself to listening. Jesus is the revealer of God the Father. That means our main interest in prayer should be asking Jesus, Our Lord, about his Father and then dedicating ourselves to listening.

Lord, teach me how to pray.

Jesus, the master of the universe, wants to  listen to us and guide us on the path of peace. Knowing all things past, present and future, we have our freedom to choose the type of relationship we want to have.  Do you want a superficial one or one that is deep and full of peace. 

He is there waiting to teach us through the “Our Father” to pray more deeply. Today let’s pray our traditional prayers with special attention and with the conviction that they will instruct and change us in a way that leads closer to God.

Jesus, too often I rattle off my prayers without thinking about the attitudes they contain. I want to get the full benefit of all the prayers I say every day. I want to pray these prayers more often, especially the “Our Father,” since it is the prayer that you yourself taught me.

Prayer is one of the pillars of lent. It is integral to our spiritual growth because it reminds us of our own dependence on God in Christ and instills in us a surrender of our will to him, the purpose of which is to assist us in becoming receptive to what God wants us to see and to do.

The season of lent, when approached intentionally, gives us a reboot, and an opportunity to turn back to what is important.  Simply put, we are called to our ultimate purpose and mission which is to grow deeper in the ways of God’s love.  Praise God that we have this opportunity for a fresh start.