Chapter 10: Jesus Teaches Us to Pray

Prayer: The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. PSALM 19 Lord, daily I fail seven or more times to follow your precepts. They are all meant for the full flourishing of every family member. Forgive my sins; draw me back to the joy of your love. Amen.

Journal: Read Matthew 26:31-56 Why does Jesus pray at this time? Think about the surrounding context of being denied by Peter and being arrested.

Prayer Means Talking and Listening to God Since prayer is a conversation with God, the communication must go both ways.

Prayer is a conversation with God. It involves lifting of one’s mind and heart to enter into that communication. When we pray, we should realize that, since it is a real conversation, God’s answer to our prayer might be “yes.” But out of God’s wisdom and love for us, the answer might be “no.”

We must also realize that God answers prayer in his time, not ours. An answer of “no” might close one door, but open another. Also, what we request might not be the right thing for us right now, but at some time in our future it will be. We must trust in God’s infinite wisdom as we do in his infinite love.

Prayer Is God’s Gift to Us The Holy Spirit enables us to pray to God the Father. We can pray because God approaches us first.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that prayer is the “living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with his Son Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit.” Just as human friendships thrive on dialogue, prayer deepens our friendship with God and gives us the strength to live according to his plan for us.

There are many different ways to talk to God.

When we talk to God in everyday language about what is important to us, this is called spontaneous prayer. We can use our own words, and share our thoughts and feelings with God. It may be to praise him, to ask him for what is good, or to express our fear, sorrow, joy, or gratitude.

Prayers of praise acknowledge God and his goodness, and glorify him for who he is.

Prayers of petition ask God for favors. Another name for this is supplication. Jesus himself tells us to ask God for what we need.

Prayers of thanksgiving express our gratitude to God for everything he has given us. Not only is God responsible for giving us everything we have, including our very life, but we should also be thankful for his gift of salvation. The Eucharist is the greatest prayer of thanksgiving.

Contrition is a type of petition prayer. We ask our merciful Father to forgive us for our sins. In prayers of contrition, we also express our sorrow or regret for doing what is wrong.

Prayers of intercession are those that we ask on behalf of others. Praying for others is a good example of Christian mercy and love in action. It also follows the example of the saints in heaven, who pray for us.

There are also many ways to listen when we pray. We need quiet time and space in order to hear God “speaking” to us. God might answer us through the beauty of his creation, or he might send a person into our lives who will bear his message. God can also speak to us in our dreams or thoughts that arrive as “inspiration”—coming not from our own making, but from God’s. The key to hearing the Lord is to be still and let him speak. When we are open to God’s answers for us, the real encounter with him can take place.

There are many expressions of prayer. Christians have always had a variety of ways to express our response to God. Vocal or Spoken Prayer When we express our prayer feelings in words, we are doing what Jesus often did. Speaking our prayers aloud with family or at Mass, we strengthen our relationship with our brothers and sisters as well as with God.

There are many expressions of prayer. Christians have always had a variety of ways to express our response to God. Meditation This is a form of prayer where the mind and imagination focus on Christ or part of God’s revelation with the purpose of applying what we learn from this prayer to our lives.

There are many expressions of prayer. Christians have always had a variety of ways to express our response to God. Mental Prayer This kind of prayer usually focuses on Jesus. In our minds, we talk with him or reflect on one of the mysteries of his life. When we focus on his suffering and death, imagining how hard and painful it must have been for him, we are engaging in this kind of prayer.

There are many expressions of prayer. Christians have always had a variety of ways to express our response to God. Contemplation This is a silent wordless prayer in which we allow our mind and heart to rest in God’s goodness and majesty. When praying this way, we empty our minds of thoughts and images, and allow God’s presence to fill us.