God hears us when we speak

 

Prayer is a dialogue between father and his child.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Thursday of 11th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, June 21st, 2023
Texts: 2 Corinthians 11:1-11; Psalm 111:1b-4.7-8; Matthew 6:7-15 

Very often we do understand others the way we understand ourselves. We carry this over to our relationship with God. Though God hears us when we speak, He is unlike us in the way He hears. For us words move us and bend our will but this is not the same with God. Only those who do not know God we want to cajole Him with words as they do to man. Hence, Jesus says, “In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words.” Using so many words shows we are yet to know God. 

Why do we use so many words in prayer? Is it to cajole God? I believe it is not. Is it to deceive Him? I believe it is not. Perhaps, it is for better understanding. In this regards, Jesus says, “your Father knows what you need before you ask him”. We do not even need words for God to understand us. He can hear us at the level of thought. Hannah prayed to God without words and God heard her. We read, “Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk” (1Sam.1:13). We just need to raise our hearts to Him. 

Prayer is a dialogue between father and his child

Jesus asks us to call God our Father to teach us that prayer is a dialogue between father and his child. Prayer is not between a boss and his subordinates, Lord and his servants or slaves. We need to be God’s children to pray to Him or else we are thieves, demanding the rights of children. Being our Father, He has the right of solicitude over us and knows what is good for us. Hence, as we pray we ask for His kingdom to come and that His will be done on earth. Praying for His kingdom to come means we are ready to live by His rules and commandments.  

Jesus also teaches us to ask for our daily food from God. This shows that we need to care for the body too. Asking God for our daily food acknowledges His providence and sustenance over us. God provides not only for the soul but also the body. Another thing Jesus teaches us to ask is forgiveness of sins. It reminds us that we are sinners. Asking God for forgiveness calls us to forgive those sin against us. The prayer Jesus teaches affirms the reality of temptation and evil; they will come. Jesus teaches us to pray that we may not fall into it; we cannot eliminate it.   

The reality of temptation and evil
 

Apostle Paul affirms in today’s first reading the reality of temptation and evil. He says, “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” He warns us thus: “For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough.” We should always be careful not to fall into temptation  

Prayer  

God our Father, pour out the spirit of prayer on men, that we may all call on You; strengthen us not to fall into temptation.  Amen 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke