Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Wednesday 10 October 2018
"Lord, teach us to pray” Luke 11, 1 We normally recite the Our Father from the gospel of Saint Matthew (Mathew 6,9-13)
Let us quietly say the Our Father and lets reflect on these few lines !
The first thing that is apparent that Jesus does not say that sit down, let your hearts be still, meditate on pleasant thought and feel good in peaceful harmony , but one could say that the Master composes certain “passwords” , sets out tasks , I have the definite feeling that the Master in this prayer gives work to do !! The big question to whom are these tasks addressed to? By whom should be “Thy name” be sanctified ? By whom should “Thy Kingdom” come ? By whom should our creator God’s “thy will be done”? I am certain that Jesus puts into words these goals, work , the tasks to be done for us !!
We can see that Jesus is not a lonely warrior , He would like us to be His companions in all His work! Jesus involves Mary, Saint Joseph , but even His angels are sent to the shepherds , so that they also come with their modest presents they contribute to the great work of the redemption! He puts a Star on the sky so that the wisemen from the Orient find their way to Bethlehem , so that by well-meant gifts they can look after the Holy Family !! Jesus organises a team , twelve apostles , 72 disciples and there is no stopping the Master calls everyone , because :"The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;” Mat. 9, 37 The Christian prayer in this world is not the man reaching his goal then leaning back , his happy floating in the nullity, a pink nirvana ! Jesus’ prayers are full of life , action !! The praying man kneels in front of the still working , Lord of the harvest,Who gave Noah, Abraham , Moses and all the prophets gives all of them work, a task!
It is natural that Jesus takes His disciples to rest in a lonely place , but at the same time He encourages , that even in our prayers :” ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9, 38
For me prayer is a joyful , peaceful discussion! He is the Good Shepherd, I am the puli, He is the engineer and I am the worker by His side ! The quietness of prayer for me is the weaving of plans, dreams , their discussion , a triumphant readying for one or more new task! Naturally that this creative , constructive work is illuminated by the seventh day the we can lean back with the sweet taste of the work well-done , we can take delight in the mutual work , that the creator God, who never ceases to work in the further creation of the world, our heavenly Father creates with His children !
For me the prayer is a dynamic meeting with the infinitely wise, strong, just, merciful God ! Who has a sense of humour , Who understands our weaknesses , our fears and even seeing our clumsy stumbling never looses His trust He placed in us , and Who quite certainly will never send away the one from His vineyard who wants to start working there no matter how late !
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial."
Luke 11:1-4
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Wednesday 10 October 2018