544. How does Jesus teach us to pray? (part 1)
(Comp 544) Jesus teaches us to pray not only with the Our Father but also when he
prays. In this way he teaches us, in addition to the content, the dispositions
necessary for every true prayer: purity of heart that seeks the Kingdom and
forgives one’s enemies, bold and filial faith that goes beyond what we feel and
understand, and watchfulness that protects the disciple from temptation.
“In brief”
(CCC 2621) In his teaching, Jesus teaches his disciples to
pray with a purified heart, with lively and persevering faith, with filial
boldness. He calls them to vigilance and invites them to present their
petitions to God in his name. Jesus Christ himself answers prayers addressed to
him.
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 2608) From the Sermon
on the Mount onwards, Jesus insists on conversion
of heart: reconciliation with one's brother before presenting an offering
on the altar, love of enemies, and prayer for persecutors, prayer to the Father
in secret, not heaping up empty phrases, prayerful forgiveness from the depths
of the heart, purity of heart, and seeking the Kingdom before all else (Cf. Mt
5:23-24, 44-45; 6:7, 14-15, 21, 25, 33). This filial conversion is entirely
directed to the Father.
Reflection
(CCC 2609) Once committed to conversion, the heart learns to
pray in faith. Faith is a filial
adherence to God beyond what we feel and understand. It is possible because the
beloved Son gives us access to the Father. He can ask us to "seek"
and to "knock," since he himself is the door and the way (Cf. Mt
7:7-11, 13-14). [IT CONTINUES]
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