Master·evangeli.net
Today's Gospel + short theological explanation
The "itineraries" of prayer
EDITORIAL TEAM evangeli.net (based on texts by Benedict XVI) (Città del Vaticano, Vatican)Today, Jesus shows us the "itineraries" of prayer. To be a man essentially means "relationship with God", and therefore, to talk to Him and to listen to Him. Our prayer can and should arise above all from our hearts, but we also constantly need the support of the vocal prayers received from pious tradition (particularly, the "Psalms").
Indeed, without these aids to prayer, our own prayer becomes subjective and ends up reflecting ourselves more than the living God. It is essential to hear and keep His Word! Normally, thought precedes the word (first we have an idea and then look for the word to express it). But liturgical prayer in general, is exactly the other way around: the Word, the voice, goes ahead of us, and our spirit has to adapt to it.
—O Lord, on our own, we, men, do not know how to pray as we ought to. But You have come to our aid by providing the words of our prayer so we can gradually come to know You and draw closer to You.