Homily of Wednesday in the 27th Week of the Ordinary Time Year C.
Ref:Jonah 4:1-11; Lk 11:1-4
By: Rev Fr Felix Olátúnjí Yayi, C.S.Sp.
Dear friends in Christ,
In today’s Gospel of Luke, one of Jesus’ disciples asks him to teach them how to pray. This request doesn’t imply they hadn’t been praying or participating in temple worship as Jews. Rather, they were drawn to Jesus’ unique approach to prayer and wanted to learn from him.
The Lord’s Prayer Jesus teaches us is all-encompassing. By calling God “Our Father,” we acknowledge a close, intimate relationship with Him. The use of “Our Father” rather than “My Father” emphasizes that this Father is shared by all, including those we may have malice towards or consider enemies. Jesus teaches us that to pray effectively, we must love God and our neighbors.
The attitude and disposition we bring to prayer matter more than the volume or length of our prayers. Let us learn from Jesus how to pray with sincerity and reverence. May God our Father help us approach Him with the confidence of sons and daughters. May we be blessed with the courage to call Him “Our Father.”
Amen. Peace!
