In his weekly General Audience Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the “Our Father” prayer. This week he focused on the “need for perseverance in prayer.”
The pope said that in the Gospels Christ's entire life is 'steeped in prayer.' He noted how Jesus every action is guided by His “communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit.”
The pope used the examples of when Christ prays for Peter's perseverance in faith and for forgiveness when on the cross.
He stressed the need for this constancy of prayer and “unwavering trust that the Father will answer our petitions.”
The pope added that even though God's saving plan remains mysterious one can be assured that He is the “loving Father who longs to fulfill the desire for happiness” in every human heart.
SUMMARY OF POPE'S CATECHESIS
Dear brothers and sisters,
In our continuing catechesis on the Lord’s Prayer, we now consider Jesus’ teaching on the need for perseverance in prayer.
We see from the Gospels that Christ’s entire life is steeped in prayer, born of his communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit who guides his every action. Jesus’ constant prayer is seen above all in the events of his passion.
At the Last Supper, he intercedes for Peter’s perseverance in faith (cf. Lk 22:32), and his last words from the cross are a prayer for forgiveness and a confession of trust in the Father’s will.
When the disciples ask Jesus to show them how to pray, he gives them the words of the “Our Father.” But he goes on to tell two parables that teach the need for constancy in prayer and unwavering trust that the Father will answer our petitions.
As a good Father, God answers every prayer in his good time and according to his saving plan. Though the unfolding of that plan remains mysterious, we can be confident that, in the end, ours is a loving Father who longs to fulfill the desire for happiness present in every human heart.
I welcome the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially the groups coming from the United States of America. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!
