Teach us to Pray – Reflection on Luke 11:1-4
I find it curious that one of Jesus’s disciples, after praying in His “place,” suddenly says, “Lord, teach us to pray.” No doubt the disciple wanted to know how to pray like John from the heart. Perhaps seeing Jesus alone praying in silence prompted the disciples to want that style of more profound and deep interior prayer. Jesus’s response is a prayer that professes that the Father is a reachable reality. We can examine our personal takeaways from the Lord’s prayer. For example, I love that Jesus presents the kingdom as available to be present. I can ask for bread that satisfies my spiritual hunger. I am given and reminded of my responsibility to participate in two-way forgiveness. So important in the world today, I can request and receive the gift to endure against evil. I also believe Jesus was not saying this specific prayer was all they had to do. I suspect that Jesus was suggesting “the Lord’s Prayer” was the starting point with silence in our unique places as entry points into more profound prayer.
The Lord’s Prayer by James Tissot (full resolution painting).
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Luke 11:1-4 – Scripture*
The Lord’s Prayer
He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel reading and considering this Lectio Divina Luke 11:1-4 Reflection – Teach us to Pray
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections of the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative payer style, others might appreciate these types of expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions.
Attributions
This site has written permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Luke 11 passage.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image web use at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum websites.
Facebook discussion group on St. John of the Cross.
Facebook page on Lectio Divina daily Gospel Readings.