Jesus Christ – an example of prayer.

In the introduction to La P r e g h I e r’s Encyclopaedia of Prayer (Rome 1967), Professor R. Boccassino’s recollections from Africa. A primitive woman from a hill tribe makes clay vessels. She prays to the gods as she searches for the clay, mixing and firing it. They ask her who taught her. She shrugs and says: “Who teaches children to cry? Sami. Even prayer is alone from the heart.”

The definition of what prayer is said: Prayer is man’s conversation with God. We read in the Gospel an extraordinary conversation between a man and God, a wonderful conversation between the God-man, Jesus Christ, and His Father. From every line and sentence as we read the Gospel, we feel the greatness and beauty of that connection in conversation. The Easter season is coming to an end. We are only a week away from the Feast of the Sending of the Holy Spirit, the grand celebration of the beginning of the Church. Throughout the Easter season, we have been reminded of the mystery of our redemption. The work of Jesus Christ does not end with the events of Easter, the Resurrection, and the Ascension. Jesus Christ lives and develops in the Church. This is what Jesus Christ wanted and asked for in today’s Gospel, which we also call the High Priestly Prayer. Jesus prayed this prayer at the Last Supper. In the prayer, Jesus asks the Father for himself and his disciples. Jesus knows that his mission on earth is coming to an end. He asks for himself to recover the original glory shared with him by the Father, which he had stripped himself of (cf. Phil 2:7) for that time of his life when he wanted to become like us humans in all things except sin. He asks for unbreakable faith in his person and his mission against all hostility for the apostles. Even more, he asks for unity among them.

Jesus promises his disciples: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in their midst” (Mt 18:20). He also showed them the pattern and the way to achieve this communion. Prayer is the hallmark of religious life. The believer cannot do without it. That is why our Church, following the example of Jesus Christ, attaches great importance to prayer and emphasizes cultivating both communal and personal prayer. Prayer has a firm place in the whole liturgy. Happy is a family and personal life enriched by regular prayer! In the light of this statement, it is appropriate to ask whether prayer has a proper place, seriousness, and appreciation in our lives. Let us reflect a little so that we may not be hasty in answering, but my answer is serious and responsible.

For us, the most reliable measure of the genuineness of the prayer life is Jesus Christ and his prayer-filled life. He prayed throughout his life. He was in constant, abiding communion with His heavenly Father in prayer. His real action was prayer, for he did everything in the name of the Father. He was doing his will in every act, glorifying the Father and showing help to people. In this way, he set an example for his followers to follow. Jesus’ specific prayers and examples are remarkable. He blessed in prayer (cf. Jn 6:2); he praised the Father (Mt 11:25); he prayed and gave thanks (cf. Jn 11:41); he prayed for Peter (cf. Lk 22:32); he prayed for the disciples and all believers (cf. Jn 17); he prayed for enemies (cf. Lk. 23:34); showed that one should always pray and not waver( cf. Lk. 18:1); warned against hypocrisy in prayer (cf. Mt. 6:7); promised to hear prayer offered in his name out of unwavering faith (cf. Jn. 15:7); showed and left the pattern of the Our Father prayer (cf. Mt. 6:9-13).

In prayer, Jesus found strength and consolation, which is why he always prayed at all times and in every situation: morning, day, and evening, at meals, in joy, and sorrow. In all things, he asked for the help and blessing of the Father in heaven. We see that Jesus’ emphasis in the practice of prayer is primarily on the things of God, acknowledging God’s power, respecting God’s will, appropriating and furthering God’s purposes: ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God…’ (Mt 6:33). However, it is essential that Jesus did not underestimate secular values, including human bodily needs. The success of prayer will also be more accurate when it is evident to all that we are Christians, and this must radiate from our words and actions.

This means that we are to be Christian not only in church but also everywhere: at home, in the family, in the workplace, and society. Our prayers are to be guided in this direction no matter where we pray because it is not where we pray that is decisive but how we pray. This means that prayer must be a matter of the heart and not a habit, for only then can it be genuine. But this does not detract from the importance of prayer in church. Praying together in church is very important for establishing a good relationship with God and with one’s neighbor. The Jerusalem temple was close to Jesus. He often spent time praying there, but he prayed wherever he was, not disturbed by anyone or anything. He could concentrate, open his heart in complete trust to the Father, and express his petitions and thanksgiving. In this context, let us understand the words: “If thou wilt pray, enter into thy chamber, shut the door behind thee…” (Mt 6:6). This means that we are to pray everywhere, anywhere, and in all the needs of life. Jesus is our most beautiful example in this. His prayer, his conversation with the Father, represents an immense richness for us from which we can continually draw. Many before us have seen this in their own lives and have never regretted it; on the contrary, prayer has lifted them and pulled them more to the model of prayer – Jesus Christ.

On November 13, 1983, the Holy Father John Paul II declared Maria Bacardi blessed. The liturgy was celebrated in Arabic, Greek, and Latin. In a sermon focused on the life of prayer of the new Blessed, the Holy Father said: “The Arab Bacardi family from a small village near Nazareth was visited by misfortune after misfortune. Twelve children were born, and all twelve died shortly after birth. The desperate parents – Greek Catholics – travel to Bethlehem with a prayer: At least one healthy child. It happened. The child is named Mary, and two years later, both parents die. Mary reaches relatives in Alexandria. As a 13-year-old, they want to betroth her according to the local custom. Something unexpected happens. The girl disagrees. Already at this age, she would like to consecrate herself to God. When punishments don’t help, she must go to a Muslim family for re-education. More punishments follow because she does not want to accept the faith of her hosts. After many adventures, she gets a job as a maid in France and becomes Sister Mary of the Crucified Jesus in a short time. She fills her life with love and especially with prayer. She lives in India, Spain, and finally in Bethlehem. She dies in the service of love when she brings water to the workers at the construction site. He suffered an accident and died of its effects on August 26, 1878. She was only 33 years old.” The Holy Father concluded his sermon with a prayer to her, the woman of prayer, Mary, From the crucified Jesus, like Jesus in the Upper Room, “I pray for them. I ask and pray for the peace of the whole world, unity, stability of human hearts, and confession of faith. “

The primitive woman in the professor’s narrative tells us: “Let us understand prayer as a matter of the heart,” It does not matter about education, status, or age, but about the love, we reciprocate to our God.