Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/629

 we are  to  pray. Jesus tells  us  what  we  are  to  pray  for,  in  the  Our Father; and  in  the  same  prayer  He  partly  tells  us  how  we  are  to  pray, for by  the  very  first  words  He  teaches  us  that  we  should  pray  to  God with the  confidence  of  children,  while  the  fifth  petition  reminds  us  of our  sins,  and,  therefore,  warns  us  to  pray  with  deep  humility. By His exhortations, similes  and  parables  which  we  have  just  read  our  Lord urges us  to  pray  i.  with  perseverance;  2. with confidence;  and  3. in common.

Perseverance in  prayer  and  its  necessity  are  taught  us  by  the  parable of the  importunate  friend,  who  though  he  presented  his  petition  at  a time  most  inconvenient  to  his  friend,  and  therefore  very  unfavourable to his  cause,  got  what  he  wanted,  simply  because  he  asked  persistently. This example,  taken  from  human  life,  was  given  by  our  Lord  to  show the necessity  of  persistence  and  perseverance  in  prayer. God is  our best friend,  and  He  will  undoubtedly  hearken  to  us  if  we  pray  without ceasing. The man  in  the  parable  at  last  granted  his  friend’s  request, simply to  be  rid  of  his  importunity:  but  is  this  the  case  with  God: Certainly not! God hearkens  to  us  out  of  pure  love;  but  He  often suffers us  to  plead  for  a long  time  in  order  that,  by  reason  of  our perseverance, we  may  become  more  worthy  to  receive  what  we  ask  for. Our prayers  to  God  can  never  be  inopportune,  because  He  is  ready at all  times  to  hearken  to  us.

Confidence in  prayer  is  urged  on  us  by  our  Lord’s  grand  and distinct promise:  “Every  one  that  asketh,  receiveth;  and  he  that  seeketh findeth; and  to  him  that  knocketh,  it  shall  be  opened.”  Every  one, therefore, without  any  exception,  is  heard  when  he  asks  for  right  things, in a right  way. “Every real  prayer,  that  is,  every  prayer  which  proceeds from  the  inward  needs  of  the  heart,  and  which  is  offered  up  to obtain  what  is  really  good  and  necessary,  is  heard  by  God. He is always  ready  to  give  us  what  we  need,  and  only  desires  what  is  good for us”  (Bisping). And if,  sometimes,  we  do  not  receive  that  which  we in  our  short-sightedness  have  asked  for,  God  gives  us  something  else instead, which  it  is  better  for  us  to  have. Our Lord  explains  this  in His  simile  of  the  child  who  asks  his  father  for  bread  &amp;c. If no earthly  father,  hearing  and  understanding  his  request,  would  be  so  cruel to his  child  as  to  give  him  something  useless  or  hurtful  instead  of the  thing  for  which  he  asks; how  much  less  would  our  heavenly  Father do such  a thing. He will  always  listen  to  our  prayer,  and  give  us  those things which  conduce  to  our  welfare.

Prayer in  common  is  recommended  by  our  Lord  in  these  words: “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.” No matter,  therefore,  how  few  people  meet  to  pray  together,  their united prayer  will  be  heard. Household and  family  prayers;  all  general, public worship,  and  meetings  of  confraternities,  guilds  &amp;c. &amp;c., are pleasing to  God.