Prayer – seeking some connection with God, known or unknown – is a fundamental aspect of human nature. Be it a plea, a desire to express thanksgiving for some act of mystery, or even the rudimentary quest for a meaning in life, prayer comes and is expressed in many forms.

At the time of Jesus, as with now, the Jews had a series of formulaic prayers, which formed the core of their worship. They prayed the Psalms, expressed themselves in music, and poured out their hearts before the Lord. One of the most poignant moments of prayer in the Jewish Scriptures is that of Hannah, lamenting her inability to have a child, pleading with God for hope and consolation.

At the core we pray believing, or at least hoping, that there is a God there to listen, and even more than listen, to be loving and merciful enough to respond to those prayers.

Although we know nothing of it, apparently John the Baptizer taught his disciples how to pray. Jesus, leads a life of regular prayer, is never seen as praying with his disciples in an overt way, That is not to say it doesn’t happen, but rather that all incidents of prayer in the Gospels see Jesus praying either alone, or for something specific, but without including the disciples. This we would see at the accounts of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish.

The disciples, then, approach Jesus with a simple request: teach us to pray.

Jesus then instructs his disciples by giving them a rudimentary outline for prayer. The version of this prayer we hear recounted by St. Luke is less developed as we read in St. Matthew, but the prayer itself is certainly familiar.

Perhaps many of us, having some background in faith formation through our childhood, have a basic understanding of prayer. However, it can be difficult to think about going beyond that prayer in order to encounter God on a deeper and more personal level. All too often, those who intentionally seek such an encounter end up leaving the church for other religious communities so that they can feel that connection. Yet, the sheer power and beauty of the Mass, and the pious practices of the faith, such as the Rosary, should draw us into deepening our life of prayer and relationship with God.

The disciples, even though they are with Jesus, still need to learn to pray. It is our obligation to seek out guidance in prayer, and to teach others to pray.

Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.