Jesus Christ – an example of prayer

In the introduction to the encyclopedia of prayer L a P r e g h I e r a (Rome 1967), Professor R. Boccaccio writes his memories of Africa. A primitive woman from a mountain tribe makes a vessel out of clay. He prays to the gods, searching for clay, in mixing and burning. They ask her who taught her that. She shrugs and says, “Who teaches children to cry? Alone. Even prayer is from the heart.”

The definition of what prayer is: Prayer is a person’s conversation with God. In the Gospels, we read a wonderful conversation of man with God, a wonderful conversation of God-man – Jesus Christ with his Father. From each line and sentence as we read the gospel, we feel the greatness and beauty of that connection in conversation. Easter time is coming to an end. Only a week separates us from the feast of the Sending of the Holy Spirit, the great celebration of the beginning of the Church. During Easter, we remembered the secret of our redemption. The work of Jesus Christ does not end with Easter events, resurrections, and ascension. Jesus Christ lives and develops in the Church. That is what Jesus Christ wanted, and he asked for it in today’s Gospel, which we also call with the high priestly prayer. Jesus prayed this prayer at the Last Supper. In prayer, Jesus asks the Father for himself and his disciples. Jesus knows that his mission on earth is ending. He asks for himself to restore the original glory common to him with the Father, whom he got rid of (cf. Phil 2: 7) during his life when he wanted to become like us people in everything except sin. He asks the apostles for unshakable faith in his person and his mission against all hostility. Even more, begging for unity among them.

Jesus promises his disciples, “For where two or three are assembled in my name, there am I among them” (Mt 18:20). He also showed them a pattern and a way to achieve this communion. Prayer is a hallmark of religious life. Believers, Therefore, our Church, following the example of Jesus Christ, attaches great importance to prayer and emphasizes the cultivation of common and personal prayers. Prayer has a firm place in the whole liturgy. Family and personal life enriched by regular prayers are happy. By stating that it is appropriate to ask whether prayer has a proper place, seriousness, and appreciation in our lives, let us think a little about not rushing in answering but being able to answer seriously and responsibly.

The most reliable measure of the truth of prayer life for us is Jesus Christ, and his life permeated with prayer. He prayed for all his life. He was in constant, constant contact with his heavenly Father in prayer. His whole act was prayer because he did everything for the Father. In every act, he did his will, glorified the Father, and showed help to men. He set an example for his followers to follow. Jesus’ specific prayers and examples are remarkable. He blessed in prayer (cf. Jn 6: 2); praising the Father (Matt. 11:25); he begged and thanked (cf. Jn 11:41); he begged for Peter (cf. Lk 22:32); he begged for disciples and all believers (cf. Jn 17); he prayed for the enemies (cf. Lk 23:34); showed that one should always pray and not give up (cf. Lk 18: 1); warned of hypocrisy in prayer (cf. Mt 6: 7); he promised to hear the prayer offered in his name out of unshakable faith (cf. Jn 15: 7); he showed and left the pattern of our Father’s prayer (cf. Mt 6: 9-13).

In prayer, Jesus found strengthening and pleasure, so he prayed constantly, in every time and every situation: morning, day, and evening, with food, joy, and sorrow. In all things, he asked for help and blessings of the Father in heaven. We see that Jesus emphasized traditionally in prayer above all the things of God, acknowledging God’s power, respecting God’s will, embracing and helping God’s purposes: “Seek the kingdom of God first …” (Mt 6:33). Importantly, Jesus did not underestimate the temporal values, including human bodily needs, and the success of prayer will be even more real when it becomes clear to all that we are Christians, and this must radiate from our words and deeds.

This means that we must be Christian not only in the church but everywhere: at home, in the family, in the workplace, and society. Our prayers should be conducted in this direction no matter where we pray because it is not decisive where we pray, but how we pray. This means that prayer must be a matter of the heart, not a habit, because only then can it be true. However, this does not detract from the importance of prayer in the church. Common prayers in the church are essential for establishing a good relationship between God and one’s neighbor. The temple in Jerusalem was close to Jesus. He often spent time in prayer but prayed wherever he was not disturbed by anyone or anything, where he could concentrate, open his heart in complete trust in the Father, and express his pleas and gratitude to him. In this context, we understand the words: “If you want to pray, enter your chamber, close the door behind you …” (Mt 6: 6). This means that we should pray everywhere, wherever, and in all the needs of life. Jesus is our most beautiful, for example. His prayer, the conversation with the Father, represents an immense wealth from which we can constantly draw. Many before us were convinced of this in their own lives and never regretted it; on the contrary, prayer lifted them and attracted them more to the pattern of prayer – Jesus Christ.

13.11. 1983 Holy Father John Paul II. declared Mary Bauardi Blessed. The liturgy was held in three languages: Arabic, Greek, Latin. In a homily focused on the life of the prayer of the new Blessed Holy Father, he said: “The Arab family of Bauardi from a small village near Nazareth was visited by misfortune after misfortune. Twelve children were born and all twelve died shortly after birth. Desperate parents a healthy child Happened The child is named Mary and both parents die two years ago Mary goes to relatives in Alexandria As a 13-year-old they want to marry her according to the local custom It happens something unexpected The girl disagrees At this age she wants to consecrate to God. When punishments do not help, he has to go to a Muslim family for re-education. Further punishments follow because he prefers not to accept the faith of the natives. After many adventures, he goes to France as a maid and in a short time becomes Sister Mary from the crucified Jesus. He lives in India, Spain and finally in Bethlehem, dying in the service of love as he brings water to the workers Abu. An accident occurs there, and he dies on its consequences on August 26, 1878. She was only 33. “The Holy Father ended his speech with a prayer to her, a woman of prayer, to Mary From the Crucified Jesus, just as Jesus at the supper:” Please follow them. I pray and pray for the peace of the whole world, for unity, for the peace of human hearts and the profession of faith. “