Reflection for July 26, 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:1-13

Gospel: Luke 11:1-13

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test." 

And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him, and he says in reply from within 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. 

I cannot get up to give you anything.' I tell you, if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. 

"And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? 

If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"

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Reflection:

Can we live without prayer? 

No, we cannot live without prayer—because prayer sustains us. It breathes life into our spirit and keeps us connected to our Creator. Without prayer, there is no true life. This is the guiding conviction of those who walk closely with the Lord—those who have discovered the joy and peace that come from a deep, intimate relationship with God. 

Yet, on the other hand, some might say, “There is life even without prayer.” Perhaps this is true, in a worldly sense, for those who rarely or never pray. Outwardly, their lives may seem fine—especially if they are surrounded by material wealth or worldly success. 

But let us look deeper. Beneath the surface, their hearts may be restless. There may be an emptiness, a longing for something greater—something that wealth cannot buy nor human effort can secure. That "something" is peace. That "something" is contentment. And both can only be found in the loving presence of God through prayer. 

Prayer is more than a daily routine; it is the lifeline of the soul. Through prayer, we are embraced by the very heart of God. We are renewed, consoled, and strengthened. This is why we pray—not only because we need something from God, but because we need God Himself. He is our source, our refuge, and our everything. 

In the Holy Gospel, our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us the power of prayer. He shows us that prayer does not need to be grand or elaborate. It should be simple, it should come from the heart, and it must be persistent. For our Heavenly Father listens not to eloquent words but to sincere, faith-filled hearts that seek Him earnestly. 

So let us live a life rooted in prayer. Let us draw near to God not just in moments of need, but in every moment—rejoicing, weeping, hoping, and waiting. In prayer, we open our entire being to Him, and in the quiet of our hearts, we hear His voice. It is there, in that sacred encounter, that we are transformed. 

Let us never underestimate the power of a praying heart. For when we pray, heaven leans in to listen—and God, who is always near, pours His grace into our lives. – Marino J. Dasmarinas