It is clear, by the recorded comment of one of Jesus’ disciples, that they wanted Jesus to teach them what and how to pray—content and intent. The eleventh chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke opens with an observation and a request: “Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray just as John (the Baptist) taught his disciples.’ ” The Lord rightly answered “when you pray, not if.” His reply, well known to all: “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 in debt to us; and do not subject us to the final test.’ ” Though we may be more drawn to the phraseology of the Pater Noster from St. Matthew’s gospel and the Sermon on the Mount, the teaching that follows this passage in St. Luke’s account is insightful and instructive.

Having provided a skeletal framework, Jesus invited the disciples to persist in prayer. As he often did, he used a practical example from everyday life. “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to get him whatever he needs because of his persistence.” The lesson is a vital one. Not only are we to pray, we are to pray often—persistently.

As a reminder of our Heavenly Father’s goodness to us, Jesus then affirmed the nature of his blessing and grace to his children. “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” If we love our children and are fond of showing it, why wouldn’t we expect God to love us and demonstrate his mercy and love to us? Jesus asked exactly that question: “What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Christ’s model prayer reminds us to pray in worshipful respect; God is holy and worthy of our worship. And, even as we ask for his will to be done, we entreat him with our requests, concerns and needs, mindful of the needs of others and of his work in a world that extends far beyond our lives and personal experiences. As we pray, we ask believing he both hears and answers—when we pray.