Jesus' Prayer

[MariaChristi]

An excerpt from Pope Benedict XVI on Jesus’ Prayer as Love for God and Neighbor:

Dear brothers and sisters, ... each one of us is called to understand that in the prayer of petition to the Lord, we must not expect an immediate fulfillment of our requests, of our will; rather, we must entrust ourselves to the Father’s Will, interpreting each event within the perspective of His glory, of His design of love, which is often mysterious to our eyes.

This is why -- in our prayer -- petition, praise and thanksgiving should coalesce, even when it seems to us that God is not responding to our concrete expectations. Abandonment to God’s love, which precedes and accompanies us always, is one of the attitudes at the heart of our conversation with Him. The Catechism of the Catholic Church comments in this way on Jesus’ prayer in the account of the raising of Lazarus: “Jesus’ prayer, characterized by thanksgiving, reveals to us how to ask: before the gift is given, Jesus commits Himself to the One who in giving gives Himself. The Giver is more precious than the gift; He is the ‘treasure’; in Him abides His Son’s heart; the gift is given ‘as well’”(Matthew 6:21 and 6:33) (2604).

This seems to me to be very important: before the gift is given, to adhere to Him who gives; the Giver is more precious than the gift. Also for us, then, beyond what God gives us when we call upon Him, the greatest gift He can give us is His friendship, His presence, His love. He is the precious treasure we should ask for and treasure always... (Underlining is mine).

Full text of his Audience Address is [HERE](http://www.zenit.org/article-33985?l=english)

By God's grace, may we pray as Jesus prayed. For all those who have posted petitions, I hope the above quote is encouraging, and I would also add that many of us may not post a reply to every petition but we do pray for all. Prayer is such a gift from God; we are blessed in order that we may be a blessing. Like Jesus, may our prayer always be an expression of our Love for God and Neighbor.

 

[Soldier_Of_God]

Thank you for sharing.

 

[ready]

Thanks!

 

[MariaChristi]

Thank you for sharing.

Dear Soldier of God,

You are very welcome. I continue to be blessed by the words of Pope Benedict XVI. God has given him to the Church, in His Divine Providence and “perfect timing”!

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks!

Dear ready,

You are welcome. I am happy to pass on the blessing of Pope Benedict’s words on Jesus’ Prayer.