Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 463
Lectionary: 463
Jonah was
greatly displeased
and became angry that God did not carry out the evil
he threatened against Nineveh.
He prayed, “I beseech you, LORD,
is not this what I said while I was still in my own country?
This is why I fled at first to Tarshish.
I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God,
slow to anger, rich in clemency, loath to punish.
And now, LORD, please take my life from me;
for it is better for me to die than to live.”
But the LORD asked, “Have you reason to be angry?”
Jonah then left the city for a place to the east of it,
where he built himself a hut and waited under it in the shade,
to see what would happen to the city.
And when the LORD God provided a gourd plant
that grew up over Jonah’s head,
giving shade that relieved him of any discomfort,
Jonah was very happy over the plant.
But the next morning at dawn
God sent a worm that attacked the plant,
so that it withered.
And when the sun arose, God sent a burning east wind;
and the sun beat upon Jonah’s head till he became faint.
Then Jonah asked for death, saying,
“I would be better off dead than alive.”
But God said to Jonah,
“Have you reason to be angry over the plant?”
“I have reason to be angry,” Jonah answered, “angry enough to die.”
Then the LORD said,
“You are concerned over the plant which cost you no labor
and which you did not raise;
it came up in one night and in one night it perished.
And should I not be concerned over Nineveh, the great city,
in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons
who cannot distinguish their right hand from their left,
not to mention the many cattle?”
and became angry that God did not carry out the evil
he threatened against Nineveh.
He prayed, “I beseech you, LORD,
is not this what I said while I was still in my own country?
This is why I fled at first to Tarshish.
I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God,
slow to anger, rich in clemency, loath to punish.
And now, LORD, please take my life from me;
for it is better for me to die than to live.”
But the LORD asked, “Have you reason to be angry?”
Jonah then left the city for a place to the east of it,
where he built himself a hut and waited under it in the shade,
to see what would happen to the city.
And when the LORD God provided a gourd plant
that grew up over Jonah’s head,
giving shade that relieved him of any discomfort,
Jonah was very happy over the plant.
But the next morning at dawn
God sent a worm that attacked the plant,
so that it withered.
And when the sun arose, God sent a burning east wind;
and the sun beat upon Jonah’s head till he became faint.
Then Jonah asked for death, saying,
“I would be better off dead than alive.”
But God said to Jonah,
“Have you reason to be angry over the plant?”
“I have reason to be angry,” Jonah answered, “angry enough to die.”
Then the LORD said,
“You are concerned over the plant which cost you no labor
and which you did not raise;
it came up in one night and in one night it perished.
And should I not be concerned over Nineveh, the great city,
in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons
who cannot distinguish their right hand from their left,
not to mention the many cattle?”
Responsorial PsalmPS 86:3-4, 5-6, 9-10
R.(15) Lord, you are merciful
and gracious.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for to you I call all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
R. Lord, you are merciful and gracious.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.
R. Lord, you are merciful and gracious.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship you, O Lord,
and glorify your name.
For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds;
you alone are God.
R. Lord, you are merciful and gracious.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for to you I call all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
R. Lord, you are merciful and gracious.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.
R. Lord, you are merciful and gracious.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship you, O Lord,
and glorify your name.
For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds;
you alone are God.
R. Lord, you are merciful and gracious.
AlleluiaROM 8:15BC
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You have received a spirit of adoption as sons
through which we cry: Abba! Father!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You have received a spirit of adoption as sons
through which we cry: Abba! Father!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 11:1-4
Jesus was
praying in a certain place, and when he had finished,
one of his disciples said to him,
"Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples."
He said to them, "When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name,
your Kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread
and forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test."
one of his disciples said to him,
"Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples."
He said to them, "When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name,
your Kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread
and forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test."
For the
readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Denis and Companions, please
go here.
For the
readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint John Leonardi, please go here.
Meditation: "Lord,
teach us to pray"
Do
you pray with joy and confidence? The Jews were noted for their devotion to
prayer. Formal prayer was prescribed for three set times a day. And the rabbis
had a prayer for every occasion. It was also a custom for rabbis to teach their
disciples a simple prayer they might use on a regular basis. Jesus' disciples
ask him for such a prayer. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray he gave them
the disciple's prayer, what we call the Our Father or Lord's
Prayer. (See longer version in Matthew 6:9-13).
God
treats us as his own sons and daughters
What does Jesus' prayer tell us about God and about ourselves? First, it tells us that God is both Father in being the Creator and Author of all that he has made, the first origin of everything and transcendent authority, and he is eternally Father by his relationship to his only Son who, reciprocally is Son only in relation to his Father (Matthew 11:27). All fatherhood and motherhood is derived from him (Ephesians 3:14-15). In Jesus Christ we are reborn and become the adopted children of God (John 1:12-13; 3:3).
What does Jesus' prayer tell us about God and about ourselves? First, it tells us that God is both Father in being the Creator and Author of all that he has made, the first origin of everything and transcendent authority, and he is eternally Father by his relationship to his only Son who, reciprocally is Son only in relation to his Father (Matthew 11:27). All fatherhood and motherhood is derived from him (Ephesians 3:14-15). In Jesus Christ we are reborn and become the adopted children of God (John 1:12-13; 3:3).
We
can approach God confidently as a Father who loves us
Jesus teaches us to address God as "our Father" and to confidently ask him for the things we need to live as his sons and daughters. We can approach God our Father with confidence and boldness because Jesus Christ has opened the way to heaven for us through his death and resurrection. When we ask God for help, he fortunately does not give us what we deserve. Instead, he responds with grace and mercy. He is kind and forgiving towards us and he expects us to treat our neighbor the same.
Jesus teaches us to address God as "our Father" and to confidently ask him for the things we need to live as his sons and daughters. We can approach God our Father with confidence and boldness because Jesus Christ has opened the way to heaven for us through his death and resurrection. When we ask God for help, he fortunately does not give us what we deserve. Instead, he responds with grace and mercy. He is kind and forgiving towards us and he expects us to treat our neighbor the same.
We
can pray with expectant faith and trust in the Father's goodness
We can pray with expectant faith because our heavenly Father truly loves each one of us and and he treats us as his beloved children. He delights to give us what is good. His love and grace transforms us and makes us like himself. Through his grace and power we can love and serve one another as Jesus taught - with grace, mercy, and loving-kindness.
We can pray with expectant faith because our heavenly Father truly loves each one of us and and he treats us as his beloved children. He delights to give us what is good. His love and grace transforms us and makes us like himself. Through his grace and power we can love and serve one another as Jesus taught - with grace, mercy, and loving-kindness.
Do
you treat others as they deserve, or do you treat them as the Lord Jesus would
with grace and mercy? Jesus' prayer includes an injunction (charge) that we
must ask God to forgive us in proportion as we forgive those who have wronged
us (Matthew 6:14-15). God's grace frees us from every form of anger,
resentment, envy, and hatred. Are you ready to forgive others as the Lord Jesus
forgives you?
"Father
in heaven, you have given me a mind to know you, a will to serve you, and a
heart to love you. Give me today the grace and strength to embrace your holy
will and fill my heart with your love that all my intentions and actions may be
pleasing to you. Help me to be kind and forgiving towards my neighbor as you
have been towards me".
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: The privilege and responsibility of
calling God Father, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"For
the Savior said, 'When you pray, say, 'Our Father.' And another of the holy
Evangelists adds, 'who art in heaven' (Matthew 6:9)... He gives his own glory
to us. He raises slaves to the dignity of freedom. He crowns the human
condition with such honor as surpasses the power of nature. He brings to pass
what was spoken of old by the voice of the psalmist: 'I said, you are gods, and
all of you children of the Most High' (Psalm 82:6). He rescues us from the
measure of slavery, giving us by his grace what we did not possess by nature,
and permits us to call God 'Father,' as being admitted to the rank of sons. We
received this, together with all our other privileges, from him. One of these
privileges is the dignity of freedom, a gift peculiarly befitting those who
have been called to be sons. He commands us, therefore, to take boldness and
say in our prayers, 'Our Father.'" (excerpt from COMMENTARY
ON LUKE, HOMILY 71)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, LUKE 11:1-4
Weekday
(Jonah 4:1-11; Psalm 86)
KEY VERSE: "Lord teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples" (v. 1).
TO KNOW: The disciples observed Jesus praying and they asked him to teach them to pray, as John the Baptist taught his disciples. In response to their request, Jesus taught them what is called the Lord’s Prayer. In Matthew’s Gospel, the Lord’s Prayer is part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 6:9–13). In Luke's gospel, the setting is a time of prayer, characteristic of his gospel. Comparison of the two forms of the Lord’s Prayer reveals that the content is basically the same, though shaped by different community traditions. Matthew’s text was later adapted for liturgical use, and has been used in worship to our own day. The briefer text of Luke may be less familiar, but it probably reflects the original instruction of Jesus. Both begin with Jesus’ distinctive address for God, “Father” (Hebrew: Abba). He prays for the glorification of God’s name on earth and for the full establishment of his reign. Then the prayer turns to the disciples’ needs: God’s providential care and continual protection in the face of the “final test” at the end of time. Both versions relate God’s forgiveness of us, and the necessary forgiveness of others. In order to have a right relationship with God the Father, we must seek him in prayer, as Jesus did.
TO LOVE: Do I spend time each day in prayer to our Father?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, teach me how to pray.
Weekday
(Jonah 4:1-11; Psalm 86)
KEY VERSE: "Lord teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples" (v. 1).
TO KNOW: The disciples observed Jesus praying and they asked him to teach them to pray, as John the Baptist taught his disciples. In response to their request, Jesus taught them what is called the Lord’s Prayer. In Matthew’s Gospel, the Lord’s Prayer is part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 6:9–13). In Luke's gospel, the setting is a time of prayer, characteristic of his gospel. Comparison of the two forms of the Lord’s Prayer reveals that the content is basically the same, though shaped by different community traditions. Matthew’s text was later adapted for liturgical use, and has been used in worship to our own day. The briefer text of Luke may be less familiar, but it probably reflects the original instruction of Jesus. Both begin with Jesus’ distinctive address for God, “Father” (Hebrew: Abba). He prays for the glorification of God’s name on earth and for the full establishment of his reign. Then the prayer turns to the disciples’ needs: God’s providential care and continual protection in the face of the “final test” at the end of time. Both versions relate God’s forgiveness of us, and the necessary forgiveness of others. In order to have a right relationship with God the Father, we must seek him in prayer, as Jesus did.
TO LOVE: Do I spend time each day in prayer to our Father?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, teach me how to pray.
Optional Memorial of Saint Denis, bishop and martyr and his
companions
Denis was the first Bishop of Paris. His success aroused the ire of local pagans, and he was imprisoned by the Roman governor. He was martyred in the persecutions of Valerius along with Saint Rusticus and Saint Eleutherius, who may have been his deacons. He was beheaded c.258 at Montmarte (mount of martyrs). His corpse was thrown in the Seine, but was recovered and buried by his converts. Saint Genevieve built a basilica over his grave. Denis’ feast was added to the Roman Calendar in 1568 by Pope Saint Pius V, although it had been celebrated since 800. Saint Denis is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, a group of saints venerated because their intercession is believed to be effective against various diseases.
Optional Memorial of John Leonardi, priest
After ordination on 22 December 1572, John Leonardi worked with prisoners and the sick. His example attracted some young laymen to assist him, most of whom became priests themselves. This group formed the Clerks Regular of the Mother of God, a congregation of diocesan priests. The Clerks were confirmed in 1595 by Pope Clement VIII, but because of an unfounded accusation that John wanted to form the group for his personal advancement, he was exiled for most of the rest of his life. In 1579 John Leonardi formed the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine for the purpose of spreading the faith, and published a compendium of Christian doctrine that remained in use until the 19th century. Because of this he is rightly looked upon as the founder of the Institute which is now called the Work of the Propagation of the Faith. He died at Rome in the year 1609 attending victims of the plague.
Wednesday 9 October 2019
St Denis & Companions; St John Leonardi
Jonah 4:1-11. Psalm 85(86):3-6, 9-10. Luke 11:1-4.
Lord, you are tender and full of love – Psalm 85(86):3-6, 9-10
‘Lord, teach us to pray’
Who taught you to pray? Can you remember? How old were you?
Using your senses, go back to that moment, and picture again the place, the time,
the voice, the presence of that person. What did you hear? What was
said?What did you feel? How has that moment influenced who you are, what you
believe, and how you live?
What has it meant for you, to have been taught to pray?
The Lord’s Prayer is a gift to all humankind, in all times. It
speaks of all that is holy and true, of all that is loving and best, of all in
us that transcends meanness and shame, and puts us again on sound foundations.
Even those of no faith can pray this prayer and find solace and mercy.
Let us remember with love and gratitude the person who taught us
to pray, and slowly, gently pray the Lord’s Prayer for them, as they surely
prayed it for us.
Saint Denis and Companions
Saint of the Day for October 9
(d. 258?)
 |
| Detail | Louis XII of France Kneeling in Prayer | Jean Bourdichon |
Saint Denis and Companions’ Story
This martyr and patron of France is regarded as the first bishop
of Paris. His popularity is due to a series of legends, especially those
connecting him with the great abbey church of St. Denis in Paris. He was for a
time confused with the writer now called Pseudo-Dionysius.
The best hypothesis contends that Denis was sent to Gaul from
Rome in the third century and beheaded in the persecution under Emperor
Valerius in 258.
According to one of the legends, after he was martyred on
Montmartre—literally, “mountain of martyrs”—in Paris, he carried his head to a
village northeast of the city. Saint Genevieve built a basilica over his
tomb at the beginning of the sixth century.
Reflection
Again, we have the case of a saint about whom almost nothing is
known, yet one whose cult has been a vigorous part of the Church’s history for
centuries. We can only conclude that the deep impression the saint made on the
people of his day reflected a life of unusual holiness. In all such cases,
there are two fundamental facts: A great man gave his life for Christ, and the
Church has never forgotten him—a human symbol of God’s eternal mindfulness.
Saint Denis is the Patron Saint of:
France
Lectio Divina: Luke 11:1-4
Lectio Divina
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father,
your love for us
surpasses all our hopes and desires.
Forgive our failings,
keep us in your peace
and lead us in the way of salvation.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
your love for us
surpasses all our hopes and desires.
Forgive our failings,
keep us in your peace
and lead us in the way of salvation.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Luke 11:1-4
Now it happened that Jesus was in a certain place praying, and
when He had finished, one of his disciples said, 'Lord, teach us to pray, as
John taught his disciples.'
He said to them, 'When you pray, this is what to say: Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come;
give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test.'
He said to them, 'When you pray, this is what to say: Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come;
give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test.'
3) Reflection
● In yesterday's Gospel, we saw Mary sitting at the foot of
Jesus, listening to his word. Anyone who listens to the Word of God has to give
a response in prayer. In this way, today's Gospel continues with yesterday’s
Gospel . This is the account in which Jesus, because of his way of
prayer, communicates to the disciples the desire to pray, to learn to pray from
him.
● Luke 11, 1: Jesus, example of prayer. "One day, Jesus was in a certain place praying and when He had finished one of his disciples said to him: ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples'". This petition of the disciples is strange, because at that time people learned to pray since they were children. Everyone prayed three times a day: in the morning, at noon and in the evening. They prayed often using the Psalms. They had their devotional practices, they had the Psalms, they had weekly meetings in the Synagogue and daily encounters at home. It seemed that this was not enough however. The disciple wanted more: "Teach us to pray!" In the attitude of Jesus he discovers that he could still advance more, and for this he needed some initiation. The desire to pray was in all of them, but the way of praying needs help. The way of praying attains maturity throughout life and changes through the centuries. Jesus was a good teacher: He taught how to pray with words and with witness.
● Luke 11, 2-4: The prayer of the Our Father. "Jesus answers: "When you pray this is what you have to say: Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come; give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt with us. And do not put us to the test". In the Gospel of Matthew, in quite a didactic way, Jesus summarizes all of his teaching in seven petitions addressed to the Father. Here in Luke's Gospel their are five petitions. In these five requests, Jesus repeats the great promises of the Old Testament and asks that the Father help us to fulfill them. The first three (or two) speak to us about our relationship with God. The other four (or three) speak to us about the relationships among us.
Mt - Lc: Introduction: Our Father who are in heaven
Mt - Lc: 1st request: Hallowed be your Name
Mt - Lc: 2nd request: Your Kingdom come
Mt: 3rd request: Your will be done
Mt - Lc: 4th request: Our daily bread
Mt - Lc: 5th request: Forgive our offences
Mt - Lc: 6th request: Lead us not into temptation
Mt: 7th request: Deliver us from evil
● Father (Our): The title expresses the new relationship with God (Father). It is the basis of fraternity.
a) To sanctify the Name: the Name of Yahweh I am with you! God with us. God made himself known with this name (Ex 3: 11-15). The Name of God is sanctified when it is used with faith and not with magic; when it is used according to its true objective, and not for oppression, but for the liberation of the people and for the construction of the Kingdom.
b) Your Kingdom come: The only Lord and King of human life is God (Is 45: 21; 46: 9). The arrival of the Kingdom is the realization of all hopes and promises. It is the fullness of life, the overcoming of frustration suffered with the kings and human governments. This Kingdom will come when the will of God is completely fulfilled.
c) The daily bread: In Exodus, the people every day received manna in the desert (Ex 16: 35). Divine Providence passed for fraternal organization as well as for sharing. Jesus invites us to fulfill a new Exodus, a new way of sharing in a fraternal spirit which will guarantee bread for all (Mt 6: 34-44; Jn 6: 48-51).
d) Forgiveness of debts: Every 50 years, the Jubilee Year obliged everybody to forgive their debts. It was a new beginning (Lev 25: 8-55). Jesus announces a new Jubilee Year, "a year of grace from the Lord" (Lk 4: 19). The Gospel wants to begin everything new! Today, the external debt is not forgiven! Luke changes "debts" for "sins".
e) Not to fall into temptation: In Exodus the people were tempted and fell (Deut 9: 6-12). They complained and wanted to go back. (Ex 16: 3; 17: 3). In the new Exodus, the temptation was overcome thanks to the grace and strength that people received from God (1Co 10: 12-13).
● The witness of the prayer of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke:
- At twelve years old, He goes to the Temple, in the House of the Father (Lk 2: 46-50).
- When He was baptized and He assumes his mission, He prays (Lk 3: 21).
- When He begins his mission, He spends forty days in the desert (Lk 4: 1-2).
- At the hour of temptation, He faces the Devil with texts from Scripture (Lk 4: 3-12).
- Jesus usually participated in the celebrations in the Synagogues on Saturday (Lk 4: 16)
- He looks for the solitude of the desert to pray (Lk 5: 16; 9: 18).
- On the day before He chose the twelve Apostles, He spent the night in prayer (Lk 6: 12).
- He prays before meals (Lk 9: 16; 24: 30).
- He prays before presenting the reality and before speaking about his Passion (Lk 9: 18).
- In time of crisis, He goes up to the mountain to pray, is transfigured while He prays (Lk 9: 28).
- When the Gospel is revealed to the little ones, He says: "Father I thank you!" (Lk 10: 21)
- By praying He awakens in the Apostles the desire to pray (Lk 11: 1).
- He prays for Peter so that his faith will not fail (Lk 22: 32).
- He celebrates the Paschal Supper with his disciples (Lk 22: 7-14).
- In the Garden of Olives, He prays while his sweat fell like drops of blood (Lk 22: 41-42).
- In his anguish He asks his friends to pray with Him (Lk 22: 40.46).
- When He was nailed to the cross, He asks for pardon for the bandits (Lk 23: 34).
- At the hour of his death, He says: "Into your hands I commit my spirit!" (Lk 23: 46; Ps 31: 6)
- Jesus dies sending out the cry of the poor (Lk 23: 46).
● Luke 11, 1: Jesus, example of prayer. "One day, Jesus was in a certain place praying and when He had finished one of his disciples said to him: ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples'". This petition of the disciples is strange, because at that time people learned to pray since they were children. Everyone prayed three times a day: in the morning, at noon and in the evening. They prayed often using the Psalms. They had their devotional practices, they had the Psalms, they had weekly meetings in the Synagogue and daily encounters at home. It seemed that this was not enough however. The disciple wanted more: "Teach us to pray!" In the attitude of Jesus he discovers that he could still advance more, and for this he needed some initiation. The desire to pray was in all of them, but the way of praying needs help. The way of praying attains maturity throughout life and changes through the centuries. Jesus was a good teacher: He taught how to pray with words and with witness.
● Luke 11, 2-4: The prayer of the Our Father. "Jesus answers: "When you pray this is what you have to say: Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come; give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt with us. And do not put us to the test". In the Gospel of Matthew, in quite a didactic way, Jesus summarizes all of his teaching in seven petitions addressed to the Father. Here in Luke's Gospel their are five petitions. In these five requests, Jesus repeats the great promises of the Old Testament and asks that the Father help us to fulfill them. The first three (or two) speak to us about our relationship with God. The other four (or three) speak to us about the relationships among us.
Mt - Lc: Introduction: Our Father who are in heaven
Mt - Lc: 1st request: Hallowed be your Name
Mt - Lc: 2nd request: Your Kingdom come
Mt: 3rd request: Your will be done
Mt - Lc: 4th request: Our daily bread
Mt - Lc: 5th request: Forgive our offences
Mt - Lc: 6th request: Lead us not into temptation
Mt: 7th request: Deliver us from evil
● Father (Our): The title expresses the new relationship with God (Father). It is the basis of fraternity.
a) To sanctify the Name: the Name of Yahweh I am with you! God with us. God made himself known with this name (Ex 3: 11-15). The Name of God is sanctified when it is used with faith and not with magic; when it is used according to its true objective, and not for oppression, but for the liberation of the people and for the construction of the Kingdom.
b) Your Kingdom come: The only Lord and King of human life is God (Is 45: 21; 46: 9). The arrival of the Kingdom is the realization of all hopes and promises. It is the fullness of life, the overcoming of frustration suffered with the kings and human governments. This Kingdom will come when the will of God is completely fulfilled.
c) The daily bread: In Exodus, the people every day received manna in the desert (Ex 16: 35). Divine Providence passed for fraternal organization as well as for sharing. Jesus invites us to fulfill a new Exodus, a new way of sharing in a fraternal spirit which will guarantee bread for all (Mt 6: 34-44; Jn 6: 48-51).
d) Forgiveness of debts: Every 50 years, the Jubilee Year obliged everybody to forgive their debts. It was a new beginning (Lev 25: 8-55). Jesus announces a new Jubilee Year, "a year of grace from the Lord" (Lk 4: 19). The Gospel wants to begin everything new! Today, the external debt is not forgiven! Luke changes "debts" for "sins".
e) Not to fall into temptation: In Exodus the people were tempted and fell (Deut 9: 6-12). They complained and wanted to go back. (Ex 16: 3; 17: 3). In the new Exodus, the temptation was overcome thanks to the grace and strength that people received from God (1Co 10: 12-13).
● The witness of the prayer of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke:
- At twelve years old, He goes to the Temple, in the House of the Father (Lk 2: 46-50).
- When He was baptized and He assumes his mission, He prays (Lk 3: 21).
- When He begins his mission, He spends forty days in the desert (Lk 4: 1-2).
- At the hour of temptation, He faces the Devil with texts from Scripture (Lk 4: 3-12).
- Jesus usually participated in the celebrations in the Synagogues on Saturday (Lk 4: 16)
- He looks for the solitude of the desert to pray (Lk 5: 16; 9: 18).
- On the day before He chose the twelve Apostles, He spent the night in prayer (Lk 6: 12).
- He prays before meals (Lk 9: 16; 24: 30).
- He prays before presenting the reality and before speaking about his Passion (Lk 9: 18).
- In time of crisis, He goes up to the mountain to pray, is transfigured while He prays (Lk 9: 28).
- When the Gospel is revealed to the little ones, He says: "Father I thank you!" (Lk 10: 21)
- By praying He awakens in the Apostles the desire to pray (Lk 11: 1).
- He prays for Peter so that his faith will not fail (Lk 22: 32).
- He celebrates the Paschal Supper with his disciples (Lk 22: 7-14).
- In the Garden of Olives, He prays while his sweat fell like drops of blood (Lk 22: 41-42).
- In his anguish He asks his friends to pray with Him (Lk 22: 40.46).
- When He was nailed to the cross, He asks for pardon for the bandits (Lk 23: 34).
- At the hour of his death, He says: "Into your hands I commit my spirit!" (Lk 23: 46; Ps 31: 6)
- Jesus dies sending out the cry of the poor (Lk 23: 46).
4) Personal questions
● Do I pray? How do I pray? What does prayer mean for me?
● Our Father: I go over the five petitions and examine how I live them in my life
● Our Father: I go over the five petitions and examine how I live them in my life
5) Concluding prayer
Praise Yahweh, all nations,
extol him, all peoples,
for his faithful love is strong
and his constancy never-ending. (Ps 117:1-2)
extol him, all peoples,
for his faithful love is strong
and his constancy never-ending. (Ps 117:1-2)
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