The Perfect Prayer

Homily for the Wednesday of the 27th week in Ordinary Time

October 6, 2010

Lk. 11:1-4

Communication is a necessity in life. Life is unimaginable without communication. Our mere existence is already a communication. It is much more important and necessary in faith. That is why, the anchor (Bernard F. Canaberal) in the daily program "Pamilya Muna" (DZRV Radio Veritas, 846 AM, 10:30 am-12 nn) would always ask their listeners at the beginning of the program, "Nagdasal ka na ba?(Have you prayed already?)" In the Gospel today, the disciples beg the Lord to teach them how to pray. They recognized that they need to always confer with God and seek His guidance if they are to fulfill their mission. The need to know how to pray is also everyone's need. How must we pray? The Lord Jesus responded by teaching them how to pray. And so, we have what is popularly called now as the "Lord's Prayer" or the 'Our Father". 

The Lord's Prayer is a perfect prayer. Not only because it came from the Lord who perfectly knows His Father, but because it contains the necessary elements of our prayer. The four essential elements of prayer are; Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. We come before God to give Him praise, to ask forgiveness and seek reconciliation, to express our gratitude and to beg for needed graces. The common reason for our prayers is the last one. We usually pray to ask from God. When was the last time we thank God? When was the last time we asked forgiveness from God? When was the last time we praised Him for the good things He had given us? Therefore we must be aware that communication with God should not only be because we need something but also because we want to maintain our communion with Him. Our God is not an idea. He is a Person whom we can relate to. We must always be conscious of having a personal relationship with Him. Communion and communication do not only constitute supplication but all other relational activities as well.

But mouthing these words is not enough. The pray-er must mean what he says and say what he means. It must be done with the right intention, feeling and attitude. Sincerity  must accompany prayer. They must not be regarded as "magic words" that would instantly obtain the intention asked as soon as they are uttered. The words were a result of the intention and experience of the pray-er. Thus, the prayer given by the Lord, though it could be prayed as it is, is really a guide to the perfect prayer. It gives us an idea of how we should communicate with God and what must be said in prayer.

At the beginning of the Lord's Prayer, He reminded us to follow God's Will. This, I believe is the essence of any perfect prayer. Coming before God's presence, we must set ourselves to follow His Will and not ours or another's. When we approach God, we must be aware that God is God and we are His creatures. Fr. Orbos said that there are only two truths in life; There is God and we are not Him! Very true and useful specially in prayer. This is because we many of us think that when we ask for something, we want that it will be given. Once given, we claim "answered prayer". When not given, "unanswered prayer". Where is God's Will? Better, when we pray, we ask God what we think is best for us. Then, leave it to Him on how, when, and where it will be given. That is what we mean when we say "Your Will be done."

When we pray this way, we will realize how powerful is this communication with God, our Father. The Lord Jesus had given us a way to the heart of His Father. The Lord Jesus had led us to the truths about the Father's Will. And the Lord had shown us how life must be lived according to His Father.

Amen!