Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Luke (11: 1-4) in which one of the disciples says to Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples”.

Luke, as Fr Paul has mentioned on previous occasions, is the one who highlights and emphasises the prayer life of Jesus. Again, and again, Luke describes Jesus at prayer especially before all the important moments in his life. Jesus needs, and wants, this intimacy with his father so he prays at the time of his baptism, the choosing of his disciples, the transfiguration.  Now he teaches others to pray.

Fr Paul notes that Luke’s version of the ‘Our Father’ in today’s Gospel is shorter than the one found in Matthew. After this prayer, this lesson in prayer, there follows a series of parables and images, which underline the importance of persistence in prayer, just like Jesus did.

For our reflection today, Fr Paul says, we might just take a moment sand pray that unites us each and every time we pray it – the ‘Our Father’.