The bull of St Luke

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

Prayer: Lk 11,1-13

Lord, teach us to pray: 11,1-4

We begin with the first part of this chapter's teaching, Luke's version of the Lord's Prayer.

Compare both the words of the prayer and its setting (Lk 11,1-13) with the more familiar version of Matthew in its setting (Mt 6,5-15).
Also compare Lk 11,2-4 in the Authorised (King James) version and in the (Catholic) Douay-Rheims version. What do you think may have happened?

In 11,1 therefore, Jesus is at prayer as he is so often in this Gospel (6,12, 9,29 for example)

What is the specific condition of the disciples request?

How do the petitions divide into two halves? The implications will be seen after looking at the petitions.

For the address "Father" see its use elsewhere by Jesus: 10,21; 22,42; 23,46. What is different here?

Your name be holy: see Ezekiel 36,22-28.

Your kingdom come: see 6,20; 9,2.60; 10,9.

Give us each day our daily bread: "daily" is hard to translate. Matthew also uses it but this is the only time the word is ever used.
For bread, look back at the feeding of the crowd, 9,12-17.

Forgiveness of sins is a major theme of this Gospel. See for example, 7,47-49

Testing: as for Jesus himself, 4,12-13 and 22,40

Seek and you shall find: 11,5-13

The parable (11,5-8) that follows is unique to Luke. What is the cause of the request? What are the implications of the parable following the prayer Jesus has just taught? Look also at Luke's other little story on the same theme in 18,1-8.

For the other sayings that follow in verses 9 to 13, see Mt 7,7-11 and note how Luke is different in two significant details (see Acts 2,4).

Now look at my response.

The Sunday Gospel

This teaching of Jesus about prayer (Lk 11,1-13) is the Gospel for the 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time.

The Old Testament passage comes from the book of Genesis, Gen 18,20-32. With a gap, this reading follows on from last Sunday's Old Testament reading (Gen 18,1-10). It is as well to take the opportunity to read the whole of chapter 18 of Genesis.
In this Sunday's passage, Abraham is discussing with God the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. How well does this illustrate the Gospel?

Now look at my response.

We are now continue with Jesus speaking about the kingdom, Lk 11,14-28.