Friends, on this seventeenth Sunday of ordinary time, year C, Our Mother Church draws our attention to the need to always turn to God in prayer in all life circumstances. She reminds us that prayer is the key to unlocking and entering the heart of God. Today, Christ himself gives us this key to success. He teaches us how to pray, as well as encourages us to pray without ceasing. Through the readings of today, we learn how to speak with God, trust Him in all circumstances, and remain persistent in prayer. Loving Father, we come to You in faith, knowing that You hear us. Teach us to pray with trust and to seek Your will in all things. Help us to bring our needs and the needs of others to you with open hearts. Guide us and fill us with Your love.
Friends, in today’s first reading, Abraham, our father in faith, demonstrated extraordinary courage. Without fear, he approached God and boldly interceded on behalf of Lot, his nephew. He stood in the gap for Lot’s Family in Sodom and Gomorrah. Through this, he demonstrated that he was a great intercessor. Abraham teaches us that we must intercede for others in prayer. We must not underestimate the power of the prayer of intercession. There is a saying that, “God governs the world, while prayer governs God.” Through our intercession, God can save the righteous, heal the sick, and deliver those in all types of danger. It does not matter how far they are from us because the distance is not a barrier for God to hear us. Abraham’s boldness in speaking to God shows that we, too, can approach Him with our worries and hopes. God listens when we pray for others and seeks to help us in ways we may not always see. This reminds us to care deeply for others and to trust in God’s kindness. While in the second reading, Paul reminds us of our redemption in Christ. He reminds us that this was possible due to our faith in God, who raised Jesus from the dead. Therefore, it is through this same faith that we must constantly approach God our Father in prayer. Through this same faith, we must intercede for others, especially for our world in chaos.
Friends, today’s gospel is an explicit call to pray. The wise disciple humbly implored Christ, “Lord, teach us how to pray.” He is like the man who says, “Do not give me fish; rather, teach me how to fish.” Today, Christ prayed and also taught us how to pray. Our Lord’s Prayer has been the subject of unnecessary debate. Some have argued that it is not prayer itself but a model of how to pray. There is no need for this argument. This is because through this prayer, mountains have been moved, and lives have been transformed. Today, Jesus taught us that prayer is a necessary tool for us. All we need is to be persistent, patient, and humble. Unfortunately, most of us do not tarry and travail in prayer, yet we want mountains to be moved on our behalf. The reason is simple: we have lost faith in prayer and consequently in God.
Friends, St. Therese of Lisieux described prayer as a surge of the heart. Prayer is more than saying words; it is opening ourselves to God. We share our joys, struggles, and hopes with the One who knows us best. Jesus calls us to address God as Father, a close and loving term. We acknowledge God’s holiness and ask for his will to be done. Jesus reminds us that we can bring our needs to God, asking for our daily bread, mercy, and strength in hard times. This prayer shows us that God cares about every part of our lives. It encourages us to trust that we can speak openly to God, just as we would to a parent or close friend. Through prayer, we learn to depend on God and to stay close to him in every situation. Brothers and sisters, our God never goes to sleep. He knows when, where, and how to respond. Therefore, we must not give up the habit of praying and interceding for one another because prayer unlocks the heart of God. It breaks barriers and brings down the power of God. Jesus himself started his ministry with prayer and ended it with prayer. If we persevere in prayer, we shall gladly testify: “On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord!” The Lord be with you …may the Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I wish you a happy Sunday and a joyful new week ahead.
