Wednesday 5 October 2022

Today is Wednesday the 5th of October, in the 27th week of Ordinary time.


The Kyiv Chamber Choir sing the Our Father. As we prepare to reflect on the Lord’s Prayer today, this sacred prayer, taught to us by Jesus himself, you might like to pray it as you listen to this music.


Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 11:1-4

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.’

Consider some of the many ways that Jesus had of connecting to God: using scripture, praying in his own words, being with his Father in silence, connecting to God through creation and in his ministry . . . At this time of your life, how are you connecting with God? . . .

“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” So said Martin Luther. Many other busy people have spoken similarly. Jesus didn’t have many years of public ministry, but for him, time out to pray was crucial to all he was and did. The disciples are inspired and ask him to teach them to pray. Is there a particular part of Jesus’ prayer life or ministry that inspires you? What might you ask Jesus to teach you?


Jesus responds to his disciples’ request with simplicity. Take a moment to talk to Jesus about your own prayer life…listen out for his kindness…

Hear this reading a second time. We’ll leave space after each line of the Our Father for you to repeat it, to pray it yourself.

Words often help us to pray. Sometimes silence is what we need. Pray now in your own words, or simply be with God in silent communion.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.