By Shelly Henley Kelly

“Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” ~ Luke 11:1

Recently I watched a newly digitized video of our young family over twenty years ago. One scene captured my then three-year-old dramatically saying her prayers in a sweet baby voice, beginning with the Sign of the Cross and Our Father, before ending with Hail Mary and the Guardian Angel prayer. It made me smile to recognize the legacy of prayer carried forward across the generations of our family.

Teach us to pray

Today’s Gospel opens with Jesus praying. When he finished, one of the first Apostles asks Jesus to teach them how to pray. Now, it’s reasonable to expect they knew how to pray based on their background, attending synagogue, hearing Torah, singing Psalms, and participating in traditional Jewish rituals and festivals. However, now that they’ve followed Jesus for some time, they recognize the inherent value of learning to pray as Jesus does.

What they received

So Jesus teaches them how to pray. First, we acknowledge God as our holy father. Then we ask him to grant us three things: to nourish us, forgive us, and deliver us from evil. Of these three, only one requires something from us in return. God will feed us – body and soul – and offer us deliverance from evil, but forgiveness requires us to forgive others. Though the disciples wouldn’t make the connection until later, all three of these things are made possible through Christ. His body becomes our daily bread in the Eucharist. At his crucifixion, he doesn’t call for vengeance, but forgiveness of his persecutors. His sacrifice delivers us from evil.

Be Persistent

After teaching his Apostles how to pray, Jesus tells them a story about praying to God. Like the friend seeking bread, don’t ask for something once and accept no answer. Be persistent. How many times have you prayed to God only to hear silence? Today, Jesus reminds you to pray repeatedly. Don’t just knock once – bang on the door. Don’t just pray silently –cry out for him. God knows our heart. He knows what we hold onto. He knows what we need and what we desire. What we receive from him may not come when we ask, but we shouldn’t be silent. Instead, pray unceasingly, trusting that God will answer us.

Prayer

God, thank you for the gift of praying like Jesus taught us. Lord, we trust that you will hear our prayer and provide what we need. 

Call to Action

Be persistent in your prayer today. 

© 2025 WINE — All Rights Reserved