💖 HOMILY - OCTOBER 9 💖

First Reading - Galatians 2:1-2,7-14

Gospel - Luke 11:1-4

Prayer has meanings ranging from highly theological to simpler understandings. Many people define prayer differently. So, what actually is prayer? Today, the readings invite us to reflect on our understanding and definition of prayer. Does it help us relate to God, or does it remain shallow and peripheral?

The pericope of the Gospel shows us how we are to pray. One of the themes in the Gospel of Luke is prayer. Jesus is seen in prayer on various occasions. In today's reading, He is spotted praying. In Luke’s version of the 'Our Father,' Jesus teaches the disciples a slightly shorter version than the one in Matthew. It is perhaps more likely that Matthew expanded and explained the prayer rather than Luke shortening it. This version of the prayer begins with the simple call “Father,” rather than “Our Father in heaven,” a noble and affectionate simplicity. It is the way Jesus Himself addressed His Father; it expresses not baby-love (“daddy”) but a warm adult relationship. “Thy will be done” does not occur in Luke’s version, as Matthew often emphasizes doing the will of the Father. Instead of “give us this day our daily bread,” Luke gives the more insistent “give us each day,” which stresses the continuity of our dependence on God. Luke’s version also asks for forgiveness of “sins” rather than “debts,” perhaps because to Luke’s Gentile audience, “debts” would have seemed too narrowly financial.

The main emphasis of the prayer, as taught by Jesus in the Gospel, is that our prayer should reflect a relationship like that of a son or daughter with their father. Prayer should be the most affectionate moment for an individual, as a son or daughter stands in the presence of the Father, who is all-loving and merciful.

The first reading introduces us to another dimension of prayer, reflected in our relationships with one another. Paul narrates an incident in this regard: the brief account of the Council of Jerusalem, where pagans were accepted into the Christian fold without undergoing circumcision. Paul notes that, initially, he was afraid of being rejected by the leaders for preaching to the pagans. On the contrary, they recognized God’s work through him. This demonstrates the impact of a life of prayer, where people come to recognize God’s ways and hands in the person connected with Him.

Dear friends, we do pray, but does it evoke an affectionate feeling? This should not be confused with emotionalism; rather, it goes beyond emotionalism. It is affection. Our God is all-loving and merciful. Therefore, our prayer should be a moment of being in the affectionate presence of God, like a son or daughter. What does this mean? It means realizing that we are in the presence of the One who knows and cares for us.

The readings also challenge us to translate our prayer life into our relationships with one another. Prayer must be lived in our relationships. Paul lived it, and others felt it. As the first reading tells us that the leaders recognized God’s work through Paul, so too will our lives radiate prayer if we live it. Others will also experience it in our dealings with them.