JESUS ​​TEACHING ABOUT PRAYER

If the example of Jesus on prayer clearly shows the importance that this activity has had in his life, just as clear and strong is the message that Jesus addresses to us through preaching and explicit teaching.

Let us then review the basic episodes and teachings of Jesus on prayer.

- Martha and Mary: the primacy of prayer over action. Very interesting in this episode is Jesus' affirmation that "one thing is needed". Prayer is not only defined as the "best part", that is, the most important activity in human life, but it is even presented as the only true need of man, as the only thing that man needs . Lk. 10, 38-42: ... «Martha, Martha, you worry and get upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Maria has chosen the best part, which will not be taken away from her ».

- The real prayer: "The Our Father". Responding to an explicit question from the apostles, Jesus teaches the uselessness of the "word" and Pharisaic prayer; teaches that prayer must become fraternal life, that is, the ability to forgive; gives us the pattern of all prayers: the Our Father:

Mt 6, 7-15: By praying do not waste words like the pagans, who believe they are being listened to by words. So do not be like them, because your Father knows what things you need even before you ask him. You therefore pray thus: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name; Come your kingdom; your will be done, as in heaven so on earth. Give us our daily bread today, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive men their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your sins.

- The importunate friend: insist on prayer. Prayer must be done with faith and insistence. Being constant, insisting, helps to grow in trust in God and in the desire to be fulfilled:

Lk. 11, 5-7: Then he added: «If one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight to say to him: Friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend has come to me from a trip and I have nothing to put before him; and if he replies from inside: Don't bother me, the door is already closed and my children are in bed with me, I can't get up to give them to you; I tell you that, even if he does not get up to give them to him out of friendship, he will get up to give him as many as he needs at least for his insistence.

- The unjust judge and the importunate widow: pray without getting tired. It is necessary to cry out to God day and night. Unceasing prayer is the style of Christian life and it is what obtains the change of things:

Lk. 18, 1-8: He told them a parable about the need to always pray, without getting tired: «There was in a city a judge, who did not fear God and had no regard for anyone. In that city there was also a widow, who came to him and said to him: Do me justice against my opponent. For a time he did not want to; but then he said to himself: Even if I do not fear God and I have no respect for anyone, since this widow is so troublesome I will do her justice, so that she will not continually bother me ». And the Lord added, "You have heard what the dishonest judge says. And will God not do justice to his elect who cry out day and night to him, and make them wait long? I tell you he will do them justice promptly. But when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth? ».

- The sterile and dried fig: Faith and prayer. Everything that is asked in faith can be obtained. "Everything", Jesus does not limit the prayer of question: the impossible becomes possible for those who pray in faith:

Mt 21, 18-22: The next morning, while returning to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree on the road, he approached it, but found nothing but leaves, and said to him, "Never again will fruit be born from you." And immediately that fig dried up. Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and said: "Why did the fig tree dry up immediately?" Jesus replied: "Truly I say to you: If you have faith and you will not doubt, you will not only be able to do what has happened to this fig tree, but also if you will say to this mountain: Get out of there and throw yourself into the sea, this will happen. And whatever you ask with faith in prayer, you will get it ».

- Effectiveness of prayer. God is a good Father; we are her children. God's desire is to fulfill us by giving us "good things"; giving us his Spirit:

Lk. 11, 9-13: Well I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you. Because whoever asks obtains, whoever seeks finds, and whoever knocks will be open. Which father among you, if the son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake instead of the fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he give him a scorpion? If therefore you who are bad know how to give good things to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! ».

- The sellers driven from the temple: the place for prayer. Jesus teaches respect for the place of prayer; of the sacred place.

Lk. 19, 45-46: After entering the temple, he began to chase the vendors, saying: «It is written:“ My house will be a house of prayer. But you have made it a den of thieves! "».

- Common prayer. It is in the community that love and communion are lived concretely. To pray together means to live fraternity; it means taking on each other's burdens; it means making the presence of the Lord alive. Common prayer therefore touches the heart of God and has extraordinary efficacy:

Mt 18, 19-20: Truly I say to you again: if two of you agree on earth to ask anything, my Father in heaven will grant it to you. Because where two or three are gathered in my name, I am in their midst ».

- Pray in secret. Alongside liturgical and community prayer there is personal and private prayer. It is of fundamental importance for growth in intimacy with God. It is in the secret that one experiences the fatherhood of God:

Mt 6, 5-6: When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites who love to pray by standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the squares, to be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have already received their reward. But you, when you pray, enter your room and, closed the door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

- In Gethsemane Jesus teaches to pray not to fall into temptation. There are times when only prayer can save us from falling into temptation:

Lk. 22, 40-46: When he arrived at the place, he said to them: "Pray, so as not to enter into temptation." Then he almost took a stone's throw away from them and, kneeling, prayed: "Father, if you want, take this cup away from me!" However, not mine, but your will be done ». Then an angel from heaven appeared to comfort him. In anguish, he prayed more intensely; and his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. Then, getting up from prayer, he went to the disciples and found them sleeping with sadness. And he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray, so as not to enter into temptation ».

- Watching and praying to be ready for the encounter with God. Prayer combined with vigil, that is, sacrifice is what prepares us for the final encounter with Jesus. Prayer is the nourishment of vigilance:

Lk. 21,34-36: Be careful that your hearts are not weighed down in dissipations, drunkenness and worries of life and that on that day they do not come upon you suddenly; like a snare it will fall upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Watch and pray at all times, so that you may have the strength to escape everything that has to happen, and to appear before the Son of man ».

- Prayer for vocations. Jesus teaches that it is necessary to pray for all the needs of the Church and in particular so that there are no workers for the Lord's harvest:

Lk. 9, 2: He said to them: The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore pray to the master of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest.