Franciscan Friar Fr. Paul Gallagher reflects on the Gospel readings for the Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. When you pray, how do you usually approach God? Do you invoke, glorify, or petition Him?
The content is edited by Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Anne Marie Lom and Joe Thiel. The excerpts from the Sunday readings are prepared by Joe Thiel. To read or download the complete pdf with excerpts for your prayer, please click here: Franciscan Gospel reflection July 27 2025. Excerpts are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Photos: St. John the Baptist Parish, Edgar, Wisconsin; Holy Name of Mary Cathedral, Sault St. Marie, Michigan
Luke 11:1-13
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just 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 in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test.”
And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him.’ And he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? “If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
Background:
In last week’s Gospel, Jesus is the guest of two women, Martha and Mary. In a culture where the lives of men and women were segregated, being a guest of two women would have been unusual and even a source of scandal. When Martha expresses her concern to Jesus that Mary has left her to do the tasks typically assigned to women, Jesus does not support her concern. Instead he tells her that Mary has chosen the better part. Hopefully your prayerful reflection on last Sunday’s Gospel has been meaningful. This Sunday’s Gospel follows immediately after Luke’s description of Jesus being welcomed into the house of Martha and Mary.
Luke often describes Jesus as a person of prayer.
- Luke 3:21 Jesus prays after his baptism
- Luke 6:12 Jesus prays before sending out the twelve
- Luke 9:18 Jesus prays before asking his disciples who people think he is
- Luke 9:29 Jesus prays on the mountain at the Transfiguration
- Luke 11:1 (today’s text)
- Luke 22:39-46 Jesus prays before his arrest, trial, beating and death
In prayer, Jesus finds strength and the guidance he needs to face those especially challenging parts of his life. In today’s text, the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray as John has taught his disciples. At least in part they are asking for a prayer form that will identify them as disciples of Jesus and have influence with God as Jesus himself seems to have influence.
It was common for a religious leader to teach their disciples to pray. The text indicates that seeing Jesus at prayer prompted the disciples’ request. There is some discussion among biblical scholars whether what Jesus taught was an actual prayer or a formula to be used in their prayer. Tradition indicates that it has been understood as a prayer; but to see it as a formula for praying could also be part of what Jesus intended.
The prayer itself has an unmistakable communal aspect; all the pronouns are plural. It has three movements: invoking God, glorifying God, and finally petitioning God.
The term “Father” suggests a relationship that is both intimate and childlike. The prayer invites us into relationship with God through Jesus, and asks that God be given the honor that is due; and for the coming reign of God, to the end time when the fullness of God’s plan will be manifest. The prayer for daily bread assumes continuous generosity of God and a constant dependence on God. The petition that God be forgiving carries with it the understanding that those asking are forgiving of others. Lastly, the prayer asks that we not be overwhelmed by temptation.
Following the instruction itself, Jesus uses a parable to instruct the disciples that they should be persistent in their prayer. In the parable, the friend responds because of his neighbor’s persistence, not because it was the right thing to do or because he will face public embarrassment if he does not. Finally, Jesus instructs the disciples that God knows how to give good things to those who ask, but they must ask.
Most people to whom Jesus preached were peasants and those who had very little control over their own lives. Governments, religious institutions, and the few wealthy of the day made most decisions for people. Developments in science, medicine, and technology have given many the ability to make choices around their life and a sense of control not experienced by the peasant of Jesus’ day.
Reflection Questions:
- Do you have a favorite time, place, or way to pray?
- When you pray, how do you usually approach God?
- Do you invoke, glorify, or petition Him?
- Have you ever asked God to help you pray, teach you to pray, or give you the desire to pray?
- Can you recall a time when you were unexpectedly led into prayer? What was that like?
- What do you do when prayer feels difficult or distant?
- When did you feel closest to God this week?
- Who has taught you how to pray or served as a model of prayer in your life?
- Why do you think the “Our Father” is included in every Mass and many public prayer services?
- Is it personally meaningful to you?
- Take a moment to talk to God about your prayer life.
- What do you enjoy?
- What would you like to change?
- How has your prayer evolved over time?
- Do you sense that God is pleased when you pray?
- Like the disciples in the Gospel, do you long for God to teach you how to pray?
- Share your thoughts, hopes, or questions with God freely.
Article Comments:
Joe Thiel 07/25/2025 @ 9:39 pm
… He will respond out of our persistence, if not out of his kind neighborliness.
How well does he know me/us/you, as we ask — and how are we asking? These two factors may affect the outcome, when we are asking people for things. Has he heard from me only when I wanted something? Or does he know me well, from frequent and friendly conversation? Do I do that thing that he does — do I dtaw near and walk with Him? What does it sound like, what does it feel like, when I ask him for something? Does it come across as, “I expect this from you, I require this of you, I don’t think much of you if I don’t get what I demand!”
Does he ever get a thank you? When I say, “Good God!” what does it sound like I mean by that?
And yet, he says ask, seek, knock… You will receive, you shall find, it will be opened to you.