Quality Time with Daddy

Our Father ...  Abba, Daddy.

Why do we ever pray any prayer other than the Lord’s Prayer?

Jesus tells us – This is how you are to pray.

We’re not going to come up with a better prayer than he did.

We could learn hundreds of prayers by rote memorization,

And none would be better than the Lord’s Prayer.

Now that we’re a few days into Lent we’ve probably heard a number of times –

That Lent is a time for Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving (or good works.)

What kind of prayer should that be?

Jesus wasn’t teaching us that there should be only one prayer.

He was giving us an example of a sincere, straight forward prayer.

One that didn’t babble on at great length,

As though the number of words was more important than the meaning.

Jesus himself prayed many different prayers.

He recited the rote prayers that were part of Jewish custom and daily life.

We’re often told that Jesus went off to pray.

But we’re seldom told what he said.

We know that he prayed by talking to God, talking to and listening to his Father.

We do have some vivid examples.

For instance, we know at least some of his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Father, if it is possible let this cup pass from me.

Yet not my will, but thy will be done.

And his special prayer for us:

[Father,] I pray not only for [these apostles],

But also for those who will believe in me through their word,

So that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you,

That they also may be in us ...

As we try to strengthen our prayer life during Lent,

All types of prayer are appropriate.

We can join in the prayers of the Mass, the Rosary, Stations, Divine Office and Benediction.

We can meditate, contemplate, sing, talk and listen.

We can offer praise, penance or petition.

But we should keep up whatever we feel is drawing us closer to God.

Because that’s the real goal of our prayer.

As Jesus told us, our Father already knows what we need before we ask Him.

So, what matters most is not the number of words, or even their eloquence.

What matters most is our intent.

And the fact that we want to spend some “quality time” talking to and listening to our Father.

1st Tuesday of Lent

Mt 6:7-15      Read this Scripture @usccb.org