GOSPEL PRAYERS

GOSPEL PRAYERS 

April 2022

How do you pray? I know, it's a very personal question. There are many different ways to pray and methods of prayer. I would like to share a bit of my personal prayer life.

I am especially attracted to some prayers that are found in the gospels. I have tried to make them my own and to use them frequently. I would like to share a few of my favorite prayers here.

1. "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord" (Luke 5:8). These are Simon Peter's words to Jesus after the miraculous catch of fish. Simon was overcome at the power and holiness of Jesus and was keenly convicted of his own unworthiness. Jesus' reply, however, was reassuring to Simon and to all of us: "Do not be afraid; from now on, you will be catching men" (Luke 5:10). I remember praying this prayer at a time in my life when I sensed the Lord calling me to a greater mission. I took consolation from the Lord Jesus' reply to Simon, and the fact that God does not call the qualified but rather qualifies the called.

 

2. "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed" (Luke 7:6-7). We all say this prayer at Mass right before Communion. It's based on what the Roman centurion said when he asked Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus marveled at the centurion's faith and praised it publicly. And Jesus, of course, did heal the servant with his word. This prayer combines great respect, great humility, and great faith. No wonder it reaches the heart of God!

 

3. "Lord, teach us (me) to pray..." (Luke 11:1). Jesus responded to this appeal by teaching his disciples the Our Father - the perfect prayer and the perfect model for all prayer. The first three petitions are all about God - his name, his kingdom, his will. The next four petitions ask that our needs would be met: our daily bread (that is, all our material needs); forgiveness for our trespasses  (conditioned on our forgiving others); protection from temptation; deliverance from evil. We can't improve on the prayer taught by the Son of God himself!

 

4. "God, be merciful to me, a sinner" (Luke 18:13). This is the prayer of the tax collector, who stood in the back and wouldn't even raise his eyes to heaven, but rather beat his breast in humility and contrition. Jesus tells us that this man "went home justified," that is, made right with God. I try to pray this prayer at every Mass, asking the Lord that I also may go home justified. "A broken and contrite heart, God will not despise" (Psalm 51:17).

 

5. "Not my will but your will be done" (Luke 22:42). This prayer of Jesus, like the Our Father, is a perfect prayer. Jesus prayed that the "cup be removed" and pass him by. He added, however, "not my will, but your will be done." Again, this is a prayer I try to use at every Mass in praying for some particular intentions.

 

6. "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23:42). This is, of course, the prayer of the "good thief" crucified next to Jesus. He appealed to Jesus as they were both dying the same excruciating death, and then he heard Jesus say those glorious words: "Amen I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). This man went from being a criminal executed for his crimes one moment, to being a canonized saint (by Jesus himself) the next! I think you will agree, that is one powerful prayer! I try to pray this at Mass, especially at Communion.

 

7. "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46). These are the very last words Jesus said before he breathed his last breath. It is a prayer of total confidence, trust, and abandonment. Life is filled with conflicts, doubts, uncertainties and difficulties of every kind. But we can be absolutely certain of these facts: God is love; God loves me; God is for me. The Lord has said: "No one who comes to me shall I cast out" (John 6:37). I want to put my destiny in the hands of the Father who loves me, in union with the Son who died for me, and their Spirit who dwells within me.

 

8. "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you" (John 21:17). We can't hide from God, nor deceive him. He knows everything, and he knows us better than we know ourselves. Peter said these words when Jesus asked for the third time if Peter loved him. I imagine that Peter had to be very conscious of having denied the Lord three times. There was no place to hide! Instead of professing his love for the Lord yet again for the third straight time, Peter simply told Jesus, "You already know what is in my heart; you can see that, despite my weakness, I do truly love you." I try to offer that same prayer as well. As Psalm 139 says: "Probe me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in then way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24). 

As you can see, the prayers above are very simple, sincere and heartfelt. I believe that they pierce the heavens and move the heart of Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (cf. Hebrews 13:8).