July 2004

The disciples noticed the way Jesus prayed. They were struck especially by his way of addressing God: he called him “Father” (Mt 11:25-26; Mk 14:36; Lk 10:21; 22:42; Jn 17:1-25). Others before him had called God by this name, but on the lips of Jesus that word expressed a mutual and intimate relationship with the Father that was new and unique, a love and life that linked them together in incomparable unity.
The disciples would have liked to experience the same intense and profound relationship with God that they saw in their Teacher. They wanted to pray as he prayed; and so they asked him:

«Lord, teach us to pray»

On a number of occasions Jesus had spoken to his disciples about the Father, but now, in answer to their question, he was revealing that his Father is also our Father. We, too, through the Holy Spirit, can call him “Father” as Jesus does.
In teaching us to say “Father,” Jesus reveals to us that we are children of God and he helps us become more aware of the fact that we are all brothers and sisters. Jesus, our brother, is at our side, bringing us into his personal relationship with God, orienting our lives towards him, leading us into the heart of the Trinity, and making us more and more one among ourselves.

«Lord, teach us to pray»

Jesus not only teaches us to turn to the Father. He also tells us what we should ask him: that his name be kept holy and his kingdom come; that he let himself be known and loved by us and by all; that he enter definitively into our history and take possession of what already belongs to him; that his plan of love for humanity be fully achieved. In this way Jesus teaches us to have his own feelings, conforming our wills to God’s will.
He also teaches us to trust the Father. We can ask the Father – He who nourishes the birds of the air – for our daily bread; we can ask the Father – who welcomes with open arms the son who was lost – to forgive our sins; we can ask him – the One who counts even the hairs on our head – to defend us from every temptation.
These are requests that God will definitely respond to. We can use different words – St. Augustine says – but we cannot ask for different things¹.

«Lord, teach us to pray»

I remember when the Lord helped me to see in a very new way that I had a Father. I was 23 years old. I was working as a teacher. A priest who was in that same town temporarily wanted to have a word with me. He asked me to offer up an hour of my day for his intentions. I answered: “Why not the entire day?” Struck by such youthful generosity, he told me, “Remember that God loves you immensely.” It was like being hit by lightning. “God loves me immensely.” “God loves me immensely.” I said it over and over again; I repeated it to my companions: “God loves you immensely. God loves us immensely.”
From that moment on I saw God present always and everywhere with his love. And he explained things to me. Like what? That everything is love – all that I am and all that pertains to me, all that we are and all that regards us, that I am his daughter and he is my Father.

From that moment on even my prayers changed: more than being addressed to Jesus, it was a matter of putting myself next to him, our Brother, and turning towards the Father. When I pray to the Father with the words that Jesus taught us, I feel that I am not alone in working for his kingdom: there are two of us, the Almighty and myself. I acknowledge God as Father also on behalf of those who do not know him as such. I ask that his holiness envelop and fill the whole earth. I ask for bread for everyone, forgiveness and freedom from evil for all those who are going through trials.
When an event alarms or upsets me, I cast all my anxiety onto the Father, confident that he will take care of it. And I do not recall any worry cast onto his heart that he did not take care of. If we believe in the Father’s love, he always intervenes, in little things as in big things.
During this month, let’s try to say the “Our Father,” the prayer Jesus taught us, with new awareness: God is our Father and he looks after us. Let’s say it in the name of all humanity, reinforcing universal brotherhood. May it be our prayer par excellence, knowing that with it we are asking God for what he has most at heart. He will grant all our requests and fill us with his gifts. In this way, made free from every worry, we will be able to speed along the way of love.

Chiara Lubich

1) Letter 130, ed. B. Ramsey, Letters 100-155 (II/2), New City Press, New York, 2003