Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/628

 hallowed be  Thy  Name;  Thy  Kingdom  come;  Thy  Will  be  done on earth  as  it  is  in  heaven. Give us  this  day  our  daily  bread; and forgive  us  our  trespasses,  as  we  forgive  them  that  trespass against us. And lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from evil. Amen.”

He then  said  to  them:  “Which  of  you  shall  have  a friend, and shall  go  to  him  at  midnight,  and  shall  say  to  him:  ‘Friend, lend me  three  loaves,  because  a friend  is  come  off  his  journey  to me,  and  I have  not  what  to  set  before  him’; and  he  from  within should answer  and  say:  ‘Trouble  me  not;  the  door  is  now  shut, and my  children  are  with  me  in  bed ; I cannot  rise  and  give  thee.’ Yet if  he  shall  continue  knocking,  I say  to  you,  although  he  will not rise  and  give  him,  because  he  is  his  friend,  yet  because  of his  importunity,  he  will  rise  and  give  him  as  many  as  he  needeth. And I say  to  you,  ask,  and  it  shall  be  given  you; seek,  and  you shall find;  knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened  to  you,  for  every  one that asketh,  receiveth;  and  he  that  seeketh,  findeth;  and  to  him that knocketh,  it  shall  be  opened.

“What father  among  you,  if  his  son  shall  ask  him  for  bread, will give  him  a stone! or if  he  ask  a fish,  will  instead  of  a fish give him  a scorpion? If you,  then,  being  evil,  know  how  to  give good gifts  to  your  children,  how  much  more  will  your  Father  who is in  heaven  give  the  good  spirit  to  them  that  ask  him.

“Again, I say  to  you,  that  if  two  of  you  shall  consent  upon earth, concerning  anything  whatsoever  they  shall  ask,  it  shall  be done  to  them  by  My  Father  who  is  in  heaven. For where  there are two  or  three  gathered  in  My  Name,  there  am  I in  the  midst of them.”

Prayer is  an  art  which  must  be  learnt  and  practised. Our Lord teaches this  by  showing  us  1. for what  we  are  to  pray,  and  2. how