Word to the Wise
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 - Wednesday in the 27th Week in Ordinary Time
[Gal 2:1-2, 7-14 and Luke 11:1-4]Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.[Luke]
I would wager that if I asked the Beloved Congregation to think about the earliest experiences they had in prayer and which "prayers" they learned, the "Our Father.." [the "Lord's Prayer"] would be one of the first they learned. Some of the lines may not have made sense to a child's mind - "Mama, what does "trespasses" mean?" Nevertheless we generally learn this prayer very early. It is taught to us.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus responds to a request from his disciples who are comparing themselves to the disciples of John the Baptist and realizing that something may be missing! Luke's report of the prayer is slightly different than the one in the Gospel of Matthew, but that may be due to differences in the oral traditions. The one we use in the liturgy is closer to Matthew. Indeed, Protestant versions rely on the King James translation and use the word, "debts."
What is most important in all this is the teaching. We learned first [and later as well] how to pray because someone taught us. Our baptismal commitment includes this challenge. "Missionary disciples" of the kind that Pope Francis is encouraging us to be can teach others how to pray. Consider that as something you might do for someone. i know many non-Catholics are curious about the rosary! In any case, if all we teach is the "Our Father," that would be a great gift. It is, after all, the Lord's prayer! AMEN
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