17th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Lk. 11:1-13) “The Measure of Prayer”

One thing we expect of a spiritual leader is that they be able to teach others how to pray.  Spiritual leaders might carry titles like pastor, sister, bishop, guru, rabbi, mullah or a host of other designations.  Spiritual leaders pass on the wisdom of their religious tradition.  Some have even been conduits of mystical religious experience.  We think of someone like Abraham who talked directly to God. 

When we think about the people who were the first religious mentors of our life, we might think of our parents. Fathers and mothers are pastors of the home.  When we were very small our parents probably looked like they had miraculous powers.  Our parents were bigger than us. They also had knowledge of things that we didn’t because they had many more years of life experience.   

When we needed food to eat, our parents were the ones who fed us. Many times, it might have been our mothers who took the lead in this. We would ride along with them to the market, watch them shop. When they came home, they would prepare different food from fruits, vegetables, meats, flour, spices, and other raw materials they would buy.  Not all parents have the same culinary skills, but usually appetites are satisfied. Guests might be fed as well. As children we knew that if we tried to fix a meal on our own the results might be a disaster. We trusted Mom or Dad to do this. 

Our parents served our needs in other ways.  If we bought a toy at the store that needed to be put together Mom or Dad might pull out the toolbox to assemble our new treasure.  Worst-case scenario, they might have had to read the directions.  Somehow, it all came together with only a few parts to spare. 

If we are fortunate, our parents are also the first people who taught us how to pray.  One of the first prayers my sister and I were taught by our parents was the Guardian Angel Prayer.  The prayer reassured me of God’s constant care for me.  The prayer also expressed hope for the future.  The “Guardian Angel” prayer reminded me that God’s love put me on earth in the first place.  My lifelong choices revolve around how I respond to God’s love. 

Jesus was a spiritual master.  His disciples observed his prayer life.  After his prayer time, he addressed the challenges of his ministry with confidence.  Jesus was able to accomplish impossible tasks. Is it any wonder the apostles said, “Jesus, teach us to pray” ?

Perhaps the disciples wanted more than a rote prayer to recite.  But the Lord’s prayer, Jesus says, covers the whole spectrum of life’s cares.  Theresa of Avila said, “That if we meditate on the “Our Father” often, we will have a deep spiritual life.  The “Our Father” asks for daily bread.  We are reminded that the necessities of life are what are most important.  If we all just use what we need, everyone can survive.  Problems arise when we hoard things, waste things, and forget to respect creation.  The “Our Father” asks for help with past mistakes.  Everyone sins.  Healing can only come with contrition.  When we feel absolved, we can move on.  God extends mercy.  We must do the same thing. 

The words of Jesus look to the future.  Tomorrow will have its challenges.  We know we will be bombarded with temptations.  We ask for right judgment in the “Our Father” and to be people of virtue so we can make the right choices.  The “Our Father” in summation, addresses past failings, present needs, future temptations. 

Jesus follows his teaching on prayer with a parable.  In the Biblical world most houses had one room with two levels.  The lower level was where daily activity took place.  The door into the street was there.  At a slightly higher level was the sleeping area. At night the door would be closed.  The members of the household would gather on the upper level where they would sleep on mats.  Body heat along with a charcoal fire kept people warm.  Farm animals might be brought into the lower level of the house at night.  If someone came to the door at midnight asking for food to feed a traveler, answering the door would rouse the whole house.  The homeowner, in this case, responded because the neighbor was persistent but also because answering was a fulfillment of the law.  The master of the house proved his love for his neighbor by lending him help. 

Jesus reminds his listeners, by his story, that authentic prayer is that prayer that leads to charity.  If we want to examine our prayer life, we can do so by examining our life of charity.  Jesus served others with devotion.  For that reason, his disciples knew his prayer was sincere. Jesus’ prayer led to works of mercy.  And his works of mercy led to his disciple’s request.  Lord, teach us to pray.