Pray ABBA! FATHER! Our Father

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle C - July 23/24, 2022

Gen 18:20-32

Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 6-7, 7-8

Col 2:12-14

Lk 11:1-13

Abba, Father! Take a moment and ask yourselves, how do I pray?

When I pray, I often recite the Rosary, do a devotional, or spend time in Adoration. As a Deacon, and even before becoming a Deacon, I would pray the Liturgy of the Hours.

In our Gospel Acclamation from Romans, Saint Paul tells us we cry out Abba, Father! In our Gospel reading Jesus tells us to call God Father, and depending on the translation, He teaches us to pray “Our Father.”

Besides calling God Father, we learn several things in our readings today about how we are to pray.

First, prayer is communal. It’s not always about me or about what I want or need, but about us! We are created in the image and likeness of God, and part of that image and likeness is being in communion. God is a communion of three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And we, made in this image and likeness, are a communal people. Therefore, our prayers should also be communal.

And so we pray give us, forgive us, lead us, deliver us. The prayer Jesus gives us teaches us not to pray for ourselves individually, but to pray collectively.

Abraham, in our first reading, spoke to God not about himself, but out of concern for others who might be found innocent.

St. John Chrysostom in one of his homilies said: “The Lord teaches us to make prayer in common for all our brethren. For he did not say “my Father” who art in heaven, but “our” Father, offering petitions for the common Body. - We are one body in Christ. One Church. One people of God.

This is not to say that we cannot and should not pray for ourselves, for we should. But that prayer, in the life of the Church is also communal, even when we pray alone.

Second, we are taught to be persistent and to persevere in our prayer. Abraham, again in our first reading was persistent (50, 45, 40, 30, etc.). The neighbor, Jesus explains will give to his neighbor who is persistent. We too should be like this in our prayer life, willing and open to ask over and over again; to enter into dialogue with God over and over again.

Third, God is a loving Father who knows how to give us what we need. All the plants and animal life He created for us out of love. Mana in the desert, to his chosen people even though they complained. Multiplication of loaves and fishes (2x). Through the life of one innocent person, His Son, he redeemed us, so that we are not condemned but have eternal life, unlike the people in Sodom and Gamora. The Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, which we partake of each time we celebrate Mass. Our heavenly food that nourishes us and sustains us.

Fourth, that we should ask for the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us the Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. And even without us asking, Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit, which we celebrate at Pentecost. But just how often do we pray to the Holy Spirit, or ask for the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is the one who breaths life into the Church, and provides her with all the gifts needed for us to live in the life of the Church. To live in His Kingdom on earth, to accept His will for us.

To sum all this up, I like what Scott Hahn shares in his reflection: The mystery of prayer, as Jesus reveals to His disciples in this week’s Gospel, is the living relationship of beloved sons and daughters with their heavenly Father. Our prayer is pure gift, made possible by the “good gift” of the Father — the Holy Spirit of His Son. It is the fruit of the New Covenant by which we are made children of God in Christ Jesus.

Now think about it and ask yourselves. How do we pray? As we cry out Abba! Father! How should we pray? As we cry out Abba! Father! OUR FATHER!!!