{"id":5813,"date":"2025-07-26T09:41:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T08:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=5813"},"modified":"2025-07-15T13:30:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T12:30:03","slug":"commentary-on-17th-sunday-of-the-year-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-17th-sunday-of-the-year-c\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on 17th Sunday of the year C 27.07.2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TEXT \u2014 Luke 11; 1\u201313 \u2014 Jesus teaches us to Whom<\/u>, What<\/u> and How<\/u> to pray<\/em><\/h3>\n

The Lord\u2019s Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n

1 He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, \u201cLord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

2 And he said to them, \u201cWhen you pray, say: \u201cFather, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread; 4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Persistence<\/strong><\/p>\n

5 And he said to them, \u201cWhich of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, \u2018Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him\u2019; 7 and he will answer from within, \u2018Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything\u2019?<\/em><\/p>\n

8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs.<\/em><\/p>\n

Efficacy of Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n

9 And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.<\/em><\/p>\n

11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?<\/em><\/p>\n

13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

EXPLANATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

1 He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, \u201cLord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHe was praying in a certain place<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus generally prayed in solitude, away from the disciples, often after he had sent them off (Lk. 6: 12; 9: 18, 28\u201329). Luke portrays Jesus at prayer before important moments in his ministry (Lk.. 5: 16; 6: 12\u201313, 18; 9: 18, 28\u201329; 10: 21; 11: 1; 22: 40\u201346; 23: 34, 46) Being at prayer here would indicate that this is an important moment for him, when he will teach his disciples how to pray.<\/p>\n

\u201cand when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, \u2018Lord<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 The disciple refers to Jesus by his post\u2013resurrection title of \u201cLord<\/em>\u201d, which includes in its meaning the status of divinity. The disciple recognised that Jesus, because of his divine state, had something unique in his prayer. Now he asks that he may have that same intimacy when he prays.<\/p>\n

\u201cteach us to pray, as John taught his disciples<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Luke has already told his readers that John taught his disciples to pray (Lk. 5: 33). Many regarded John as a prophet who, like all authentic prophets, would have special communication with God.<\/p>\n

Obviously the disciple watching Jesus at prayer was most impressed and sought his help in teaching him to pray. Jesus will teach all the disciples what characterised his own personal prayer. This will be the distinguishing features of his disciples\u2019 prayer. He will teach them to whom<\/em> to pray, what<\/em> to pray for and how<\/em> to pray.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

2 And he said to them, \u201cWhen you pray, say: \u201cFather, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread; 4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he said to them, \u2018When you pray, say:<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus speaks to all the gathered disciples and will teach the prayer known as the \u201cOur Father<\/em>\u201d or \u201cThe Lord\u2019s Prayer<\/em>\u201d. It will contain two sections and an elaboration.<\/p>\n

First, to whom to pray<\/em>: disciples are taught to call on God the Father whom they are to recognise in his special attribute of holiness (\u201challowed by Thy name<\/em>\u201d) and whose reign or kingdom they are to desire to see fully established (\u201cThy kingdom come<\/em>\u201d).<\/p>\n

Second, for what to pray<\/em>: for immediate (bread<\/em> for each day) and ultimate needs (forgiveness and lasting fidelity).<\/p>\n

Third, for how to pray<\/em>: disciples must pray with trustful persistence (\u201cand lead us not into temptation<\/em>\u201d; \u201cdeliver us from evil<\/em>\u201d).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFather<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Luke does not place \u201cOur<\/em>\u201d before the word \u201cFather<\/em>\u201d nor does he add the words \u201cwho art in heaven<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Aramaic word \u201cAbba\u201d, meaning \u2018father\u2019, is a familiar title perhaps best translated into English as \u201cdaddy\u201d, \u201cdada\u201d (in sound not unlike \u2018papa\u2019, \u2018abba\u2019). The first attitude of one praying to God his Father is the familiarity and intimacy of a son to his daddy.<\/p>\n

This was something new and, for Jews, strange in prayer. Their attitude to God would have been most formal and certainly not as familiar as a father\u2013son relationship.<\/p>\n

Calling God \u201cFather<\/em>\u201d means that the disciples acknowledge that they are his children sharing his divine life which he imparts to them.<\/p>\n

Not only did Jesus advise his disciples to address God as \u201cFather<\/em>\u201d but he practised that advice in his own prayers. Luke 10: 21\u201322 contains a prayer in which Jesus addresses his \u201cFather<\/em>\u201d and he mentions the Father three other times in that short prayer. During the Agony in the Garden he addresses his \u201cFather<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 22: 42). During the Crucifixion he calls on his \u201cFather<\/em>\u201d twice (Lk. 23: 34, 46). To address his Father is a characteristic of Jesus\u2019 prayer. He tells his disciples to make it a characteristic of their prayer also.<\/p>\n

]\u2019[<\/p>\n

\u201challowed be thy name<\/em>\u201d \u2014 God\u2019s name is holy<\/em> as the Archangel declared to Mary at the annunciation (\u201cHe who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is his name<\/em>\u201d(Lk. 1: 49). The meaning here is: may the Father\u2019s name, that is the Person represented by the name, be seen as holy (\u201challowed<\/em>\u201d) by his children. As no one has seen the Father his holiness can be seen, first, in Jesus who is \u2018the face\u2019 of the Father: \u201cwho has seen me has seen the Father<\/em>\u201d. Second, when the disciple prays \u201challowed be thy name<\/em>\u201d he\/she asks that this holiness may be seen in disciples also. This is a reminder of \u201cbe holy as<\/em> [he is] holy<\/em>\u201d (Lv. 11: 45). \u201cHoly<\/em>\u201d is God\u2019s greatest attribute that all people, made in his image and likeness, should aspire to.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThy kingdom come<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This petition enunciates the mission given to Jesus by his Father which was to establish the kingdom of God on earth and bring all people to his Father who will reign over all. When the Father\u2019s authority is acknowledged by all Satan has been conquered.<\/p>\n

Luke does not record, as Matthew does, the petition \u201cyour will be done\u2026<\/em>\u201d This petition is included in the meaning of \u201cthy kingdom come<\/em>\u201d because it is by people doing God\u2019s will perfectly here on earth that the kingdom of God is established.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cGive us each day our daily bread<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The plural \u201cus<\/em>\u201d and \u201cour\u201d in this verse and \u201cwe<\/em>\u201d appears in this prayer in the next petitions. It is the prayer of the community, the family of God.<\/p>\n

This is a request for God\u2019s providence to help \u201cus<\/em>\u201d, a transfer from the singular to the plural. The request is for sustenance in anything and everything God\u2019s family needs. A disciple, like his\/her Master, does not centre his\/her prayer on him\/herself but on the community.<\/p>\n

The syntax of the verb is \u2018keep giving us\u2019, the continuous presence.<\/p>\n

\u201ceach day<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Luke adds \u201ceach day<\/em>\u201d to the request for the bread that is required \u201cdaily<\/em>\u201d. Like the manna in the wilderness during the Exodus the requirements for each day should not be accumulated. A disciple\u2019s trust in God\u2019s providence should be such that he\/she should be satisfied only with what is necessary<\/p>\n

\u201cdaily bread<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The bread that is required for daily sustenance includes: (i) what is materially needed to maintain individual disciples\u2019 bodies; (ii) what the community needs to sustain it physically; (iii) the word of God which is required to sustain the spirit or soul (\u201cman does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Dt 8:3); and (iv) the Eucharist which gives divine life.<\/p>\n

\u201cand forgive us our sins<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Luke uses \u201csins<\/em>\u201d which means human offences against God. He does not use \u201ctrespasses\u201d or \u201cdebts\u201d which are broader and may not necessarily imply a moral fault.<\/p>\n

The forgiveness of sins is a major theme in Luke\u2019s gospel (Lk. 1: 77; 3: 3; 5: 20\u201324; 7: 47\u201349; 12: 10; 18: 13; 23: 34; 24: 47). It brings inestimable joy in heaven (Lk. 15: 1\u201332).<\/p>\n

\u201cfor we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This is the only mention in this prayer of an action by a disciple. The disciple prays for forgiveness because he states that he is one who forgives others who are in debt to him. It does not mean that he asks for forgiveness in proportion to his\/her way of forgiving those who offend him\/her. Luke does not say \u201cas we forgive<\/em>\u201d but \u201cfor<\/em> [because] we forgive<\/em>. In Luke\u2019s version of The Lord\u2019s Prayer<\/em> the disciple\u2019s claim is that already he has been imitating Jesus who, like his Father, forgives the sins of others. Luke had previously recalled Jesus\u2019 plea to his disciples, \u201cbe merciful, even as your Father is merciful<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 6: 36).<\/p>\n

He elaborated in the following verse \u201c<\/em>Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cand lead us not into temptation<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Jesus does not lead us into temptation. He allows temptation to come our way. But the constant teaching of the New Testament and the Church is that we should \u2018flee before temptation\u2019 (Jas. 1: 13; I Cor. 6: 18; 10: 14; I Tm. 6: 11; II Tm. 2: 22). Temptation is a test which is permitted by God who always gives the strength to overcome it (I Cor. 10: 13)<\/p>\n

Luke\u2019s use of the Greek syntax here refers to a future trial which is the final attack of the devil in his last effort to conquer people for his kingdom. During the Agony in the Garden, Jesus addressed his disciples, \u201cPray that you may not enter into temptation<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 22: 39. When he came back to them and found them asleep he repeated these same words (Lk. 22: 46). It is obvious that the temptation he had in mind was that they would be encouraged to lose faith and cease following Jesus or accepting the Church. Jesus had already warned that there is always the danger of falling away from the faith in temptation (Lk. 8: 13).<\/p>\n

Note: Luke does not include the seventh petition, \u201cdeliver us from evil\u201d, as presented by Matthew and given by the Church as the common form.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

5 And he said to them, \u201cWhich of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, \u2018Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him\u2019; 7 and he will answer from within, \u2018Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything\u2019?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he said to them<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus adds a parable on the importance of persevering in prayer.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, <\/em>\u201cFriend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him<\/em>\u201d\u2019\u201d \u2014 This parable tells of a person in need going to not any acquaintance or neighbour but to a \u201cfriend<\/em>\u201d for help. He actually addresses him as \u201cFriend<\/em>\u201d. The title is not reciprocated by the disturbed householder.<\/p>\n

He asks to borrow \u201cthree loaves<\/em>\u201d. These were small and this amount was baked each day for each adult.<\/p>\n

\u201cand he will answer from within, <\/em>\u2018Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 The locked door was heavy. To open the door would mean disturbing the entire family, all of whom slept on a single large mat for a bed on a raised platform at one end of the small room. The animals slept in the same room on the floor. Anyone getting up during the night disturbed both people and animals, a not insignificant commotion and disturbance.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI tell you<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus gives a personal conclusion to the parable.<\/p>\n

\u201cthough he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The man\u2019s \u201cimportunity<\/em>\u201d, persistence<\/em>, or according to the Greek, the man\u2019s \u201cshamelessness\u201d<\/em>, wins out where friendship does not. There is a somewhat similar message in the parable of the unjust Judge and the persistent woman (Luke 18: 1\u20138). To persevere, even before apparent refusal, is an essential element in prayer.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

9 And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I tell you<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus adds a second personal comment, again on persisting with one\u2019s request.<\/p>\n

\u201cAsk, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The three verbs \u201cask\u2026seek\u2026 knock<\/em>\u201d have the meaning of \u201cpersist in asking, in seeking and in knocking\u201d.<\/p>\n

Those who are poor must \u201cask<\/em>\u201d. Those who are blind must \u201cseek<\/em>\u201d. Those who are lost must \u201cknock<\/em>\u201d. Prayer can truly acknowledge a disciple\u2019s status and needs.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?<\/em>\u201d \u2014 In the preceding parable the relationship between the two men was one of friendship. Here the relationship is stronger, that of father to son. If a son asks for something harmful the father will not be malicious and give. The father has concerned for his son.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The disciples are reminded that God is their Father. The heavenly Father, who is more loving and more attentive than human parents, will give only what is best to his children; he will not allow them to be harmed.<\/p>\n

God the Father sent his incarnate Son into the world on a mission of salvation. That mission was publicly inaugurated at the baptism of Jesus when the Holy Spirit came down upon him and anointed him. \u201cAnd a voice came from heaven, \u201cYou are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 3: 22). The Holy Spirit, \u201cthe Lord and Giver of Life<\/em>\u201d, is known as \u201cthe Gift\u201d. This is the<\/em> supreme, ultimate and greatest gift; the gift of God himself, the gift which all God\u2019s children should ask for.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

APPLICATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jesus, Man of Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luke\u2019s Gospel shows us Jesus at prayer by day and by night, in many diverse places, for different lengths of time, some short, some quite long, some in solitude, some in the company of his disciples, some in times of need and some when he just wanted to be alone with his Father, some before he sought help and some when he received God\u2019s gift of approval.<\/p>\n

According to Luke (11: 1) one day when the disciples saw Jesus at prayer, communicating with his Father, they were most impressed and wanted to be able to pray in a similar manner. It was not a matter of \u2018saying prayers\u2019 but of something deeper, of interior communication. Nor was it a matter of praying the psalms which, as practising Jews, they did regularly in the synagogues every Sabbath. What they wanted Jesus to teach them was what they saw as his personal way of praying \u2014 \u2018this is how I pray; this is how you are to pray\u2019.<\/p>\n

Jesus taught them \u201cThe Lord\u2019s Prayer<\/em>\u201d allowing his disciples to assume his thoughts and loves as God the Father\u2019s incarnate Son on a divine mission which they also would share with him.<\/p>\n

What is most obvious is that Jesus was a man of prayer. It was a major component in his life and mission. The first characteristic was that it was centred on his Father in a most intimate way, that of a child to his father. It was concerned with the Father\u2019s desires and aims for the world which was the mission of Jesus. \u201cGod\u2019s will be done!<\/em>\u201d epitomises his prayer\u2019s content. It was not self\u2013centred; it included all people in its embrace.<\/p>\n

Jesus prayed out of a strong sense of trust and of being heard. He knew that what he wanted was what his Father wanted. He was not wrapped up in his own needs and desires. He did not practise a \u2018once off\u2019 prayer but he persisted in praying.<\/p>\n

Jesus suffered and died accompanied by his prayer from the Supper Room to the tomb. He rose and ascended into heaven and there he continues praying and making intercession for us.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Lord\u2019s Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the fundamental Christian prayer, the only one taught by Jesus to his disciples at their request. It is not a formula to be repeated mechanically. Two things we can say about it are that it is a summary of the whole Gospel. It is the most perfect of prayers. St. Thomas Aquinas has written, \u201cIn it we ask, not only for all the things we can rightly desire, but also in the sequence that they should be desired. This prayer not only teaches us to ask for things, but also in what order we should desire them\u201d.<\/p>\n

This gospel passage has Jesus instruct us to whom<\/em> to pray, our loving, intimate Daddy, Father. Is it any wonder that when the Church presents us with this prayer in the sacred liturgy it introduces it with the words \u201cLet us dare to say\u2026\u201d?<\/p>\n

Then we record our priorities: salvation (hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come<\/em>). Next we add our present needs (\u201cgive us each day our daily bread<\/em>\u201d), past needs (\u201cforgive us our sins<\/em>\u201d) and future needs (\u201clead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil<\/em>\u201d). Praying like this makes us one in mind and heart with Jesus and so defines who are his disciples.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TEXT \u2014 Luke 11; 1\u201313 \u2014 Jesus teaches us to Whom, What and How to pray The Lord\u2019s Prayer 1 He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, \u201cLord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.\u201d 2 And he said to them, \u201cWhen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3612,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5813"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5813\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8403,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5813\/revisions\/8403"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}