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In today's Gospel, Luke gives a catechism on 'prayer' especially to the Gentile Christians whose knowledge of God and the Old Testament needed development and encouragement to persevere in prayer in such a hostile environment. For us, it is a reminder that as Christians we are people who are in 'prayer' throughout the day. This is not peity or devotion but a gesture of total surrender of oneself to the promptings of the Holy Spirit throughout the day. This makes the "Our Father" so relevant in our daily living. It is to follow Jesus in His personal time with God who is a caring and gracious parent. His petitions include that of disunity of peoples who need to be brought into unity. This will lead all to a loving witness to God's name, thus breaking down the boundaries that keep the marginalized from being recognised as God's children. This way of evangelising is what Paul implied in the first reading - the authenticity of our faith and action. This is indeed a challenge to all of us, Christians, so that our lives are an act of self-offering to the loving Father who continues to reveal Himself in the poor, oppressed, deprived and voiceless in our society. Lord, help us to be Your true witnesses so that the "Our Father" we pray daily becomes a reality. |
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P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
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That young married couples may be sustained by the example and assistance of their parents and other families
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The testimony and help that parents and other families must offer to sustain young married couples finds its place in the ambit of post-matrimonial pastoral care. Parents and other families are the most suited to offer this assistance to young spouses because clearly they have lived personally the values which they must transmit. These parents show faithfulness through living in the best possible way the commitments assumed during their marriage. One could ask, but why is it necessary for young couples to be sustained by the testimony of their parents and other families? The answer is, because today there are many negative attitudes which scandalise and discourage young people. Being new to the condition of matrimonial life they need advice, encouragement, moral support, correction and prayer. They cannot be left alone or abandoned in this phase of their lives. Couples need to take advantage of the wealth of the experience and wisdom of their parents. "The pastoral action of the Church must be progressive, also in the sense that it must accompany the family, following it step by step in the various stages of its formation and development," (Familiaris Consortio n65, 69). | |
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