FR. GERALD MUSA HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 27TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II (1)

FR. GERALD MUSA HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 27TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II

THEME: TEACH US TO PRAY

BY: FR GERALD M. MUSA

HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 5 2022

St. Jose Maria Escriva in his book on spirituality titled ‘The Way’ asks, “You do not know how to pray? Put yourself in the presence of God, and as soon as you have said, ‘Lord, I don’t know how to pray!’ You can be sure, you have already begun.” The disciples of Jesus requested, “Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples.” It was a normal thing for Rabbis (teachers) to teach their disciples some form of prayer and so the request of the disciples was not out of place. Jesus did not hesitate to teach his disciples how to pray. He said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, for we forgive everyone indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation.” This prayer contains the basic elements of prayer which are usually summarised with the acronym ACTS – Adoration, Contrition, Thankfulness, and Supplication. Furthermore, some spiritual writers observe six petitions in this prayer. Three of these petitions are related to God: asking that his name be glorified; that his kingdom comes; and that his will be done on earth. The three other petitions directly concern our needs: daily bread, forgiveness, and deliverance against evil. How confident, consistent, and persistent are we in prayer?

LUKE 11:1-4