Day 1 : Teach us to pray

"When he had finished, one of his disciples said to him : Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples" (Luke 11: 1).

Aware of their little hearts, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. He said to them, "When you pray, say, Father, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, give us daily our daily bread, forgive us our sins, for we also forgive anyone who offends us; Do not induce us into temptation" (Luke 11: 4).

We find this same prayer in the Gospel of Matthew with some small differences : "This is how you must pray : Our Father who art in heaven, let everyone acknowledge that you are the holy God, that your Kingdom is coming ; The earth, do your will as it is done in heaven, give us the necessary bread today, forgive us our wrongs, as we also forgive those who have wronged us. The temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for to you are the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever." (Matthew 6: 9/13) (Version of the sower).

These two texts present to us the person who is particularly attentive to our prayers: God, our Father.

I love this approach that we must have from God when we pray. We approach not a teacher, a teacher, an unapproachable king, but we approach a welcoming, sensitive, open, loving being : Our Father.

When I was in college and I was summoned to the headmaster, a deep anguish gripped me. What reproach would he address me? I did not even dare knock at the door, and when I finally made up my mind, I awaited with horror the terrible "come in." What a relief when it was his secretary who summoned me to fill a simple form. God is not a director, austere, severe, inspiring fear, he is our Father. If you do not perceive God as a loving Father, it will harm the effectiveness of your prayers.

When we go to God in prayer, he receives us by opening his arms, he even comes to meet us, he welcomes us with warmth and tenderness. Thus he is our Father, he created us and has imprinted on us his image: "He is our Father himself, he who made us and created us" (Deuteronomy 32: 6).

A question for this day :

What image do you make of God ? That of a master who will reprimand you, who does not want to be disturbed, that it is better to keep at a distance, or that of a being full of love ? How do you perceive God when you address Him ? Do not forget that he is your benevolent Father.

Paul Calzada