Lord, teach us to pray.

Today’s readings are a profound invitation to deepen our relationship with God through prayer—persistent, trusting, bold, and intimate prayer.

In the first reading, we meet Abraham in conversation with God about the fate of Sodom. What’s striking is Abraham’s persistence and courage. He speaks with God like a friend—respectfully, but without fear.

He pleads not once or twice, but six times, asking God if He would spare the city for fewer and fewer righteous people. Abraham’s prayer is intercessory—not for himself, but for others.

This teaches us something essential: Prayer is not only about our needs but about standing in the gap for others—our families, communities, nations, even our enemies. Do we dare to pray with such boldness and persistence for others today?

In the Gospel, the disciples come to Jesus with a humble request:

“Lord, teach us to pray.” And Jesus responds by giving them the Lord’s Prayer—a prayer that is both personal (“Father”) and communal (“our daily bread”), heavenly (“hallowed be your name”) and earthly (“deliver us from evil”). But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He tells a parable about a man who knocks on his friend’s door at midnight asking for bread. Though the friend is reluctant, he eventually opens the door—because of the man’s persistence. And Jesus concludes with a promise:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” This is not just a motivational saying. It’s a guarantee based on the goodness of God. Jesus assures us that if even flawed human parents know how to give good gifts, how much more will our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! So today, Jesus invites you to a life of deeper, more confident, and more honest prayer.

Like Abraham, dare to speak to God for others. Like the persistent friend, never give up knocking.

Like a child, trust in the goodness of the Father.

“Lord, teach us to pray.”

Amen.