Teach us to Pray

Today's first reading tells us how Paul made a second visit to Jerusalem to consult with Peter and other Church leaders after fourteen years of his first visit. Paul presented to them the Gospel as he understood it, the apostles approved of it, agreed that he concentrate on the Gentile region and gave him the 'handshake of fellowship' as a sign of equal recognition. Obviously, Peter had no problem sharing table-fellowship with Gentiles until some Jewish Christians arrived and eventually he got 'cold feet' and stopped eating with them. Paul could not tolerate such duplicity and confronted Peter to respect the true meaning of the Good News as his attitude influenced other Jewish Christians.

As leaders, we must remember the effect of our actions and inaction on others. Instead of using the occasion to correct the impression, Peter stopped sharing table with the Gentiles. The Gospels recount how many occasions Jesus would withdraw from the multitude to unite Himself in prayer. Seeing this, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray in today's Gospel. Hence, Jesus teaches us the importance of spending some time in daily prayers with God in the midst of our ordinary activities. In the 'Lord's Prayer' Jesus admonishes us to pray to resist temptation, obtain material goods and have final perseverance.

May the Lord make our whole life be expressions of the grace of God! Amen!! Good morning and have a pleasant day!!!