Jesus was praying...

Monica Walton

56 minutes ago

5 min read

We want to be like Jesus.

But we feel very far from really being like Jesus, don't we?

But there is one completely accessible and simple way to be like Jesus.

We don't need training or special skills or a specific place to be like Jesus.

We can pray.

Jesus, our Lord and Savior, the Son of God, prayed.

All four Gospels feature instances when Jesus stepped aside and prayed. Scripture notes that Jesus prayed all throughout the night before choosing which Twelve would establish His Church and carry on His Mission.

Today's passage from the Gospel of Luke steps into one scene when Jesus was praying.

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." Luke 11:1-4

Jesus was praying...

He prayed to prepare for the big moments.

He prayed when facing trials and hardship.

He prayed for Himself and His family & friends.

He prayed with all people and for all people.

He prayed alone and with others.

He prayed during times of sorrow.

He prayed in the midst of suffering.

He prayed in thanksgiving with joy.

He prayed for guidance and obedience to do God's will.

No doubt Jesus prayed with His mother and father. Mary and Joseph were devoted to their Jewish faith. Take a moment and imagine the three of them, in their humble home in Nazareth, praying evening prayer together.

The room is dark, with only a single candle flickering before them. Young Jesus spent the day at Joseph's side learning the intricate craftsmanship of carpentry. Now He sits on His father's lap and quietly listens as His mother's gentle voice lovingly proclaims the greatness of the Lord and rejoices in God, their Savior, the One who guides and blesses their beautiful, holy family.

Jesus prayed in the Temple, on the mountain, in the wilderness, in the desert, and on the Cross. He prayed a lot! He instructed us to pray. He told us how to pray, and He showed us how to pray.

We need to pray more...

Prayer doesn't necessarily change our circumstances. It changes us to be better in our circumstances. To be more like Jesus, we need to pray more. Doesn't that make sense?

Our Lady was praying and still is praying...

She prayed to prepare for the big moments.

She prayed when facing trials and hardship.

She prayed for herself and her family & friends.

She prayed alone and with others.

She prayed during times of sorrow.

She prayed in the midst of suffering.

She prayed in thanksgiving with joy.

She prayed for guidance and obedience to do God's will.

She continues to pray and intercede for all people.

There is no doubt the Blessed Virgin Mary prayed with her parents and community.

She undoubtedly prayed a lot after the angel Gabriel appeared to her bearing a message from God that she was chosen for the most special mission on Earth.

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of David his father, and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:30-33

She absolutely prayed more than any other mother as she raised the Son of God!

We can only imagine the constant prayers she offered for her most precious Son during His pain, trial, suffering, torture, and death.

Mary prayed in the Temple, in her home, along the road on her journey, doing chores, and navigating life. I am certain she prayed a lot! Since her assumption into Heaven, she has appeared numerous times instructing us to pray. She offers her great intercession, leading us to Jesus, and encourages us to pray often.

Ancient cultures commonly used knotted ropes, stones, and beads to keep track of prayers, allowing a deeper experience of prayer to command their thoughts. Early Christian monks used ropes and stones to focus repetitive prayers of the Psalms. Over time, that evolved into a Marian Psalter; then the mysteries of the life of Jesus were added, and it became the Rosary as we know it today.

I, personally, find great comfort in praying the Rosary, and aim to pray it daily. One of my most profound experiences of the Rosary giving me strength to endure a time of great stress and fear of the unknown was when my youngest son had to have major surgery. He was born with an issue that blocked his kidney and had to be corrected. The morning of the operation, a friend texted me that she and several mama friends were forming a Rosary Chain to cover us throughout the day. Someone was praying a Rosary for my child every hour for the entire day. Those prayers gave me strength to trust and be at peace in the waiting. The waiting is always the hardest part.

Last Sunday, my sisters and I, with a few other family members, gathered at the bedside of our eldest sister's husband, who is on hospice care in their home. He mostly slept, but I often noticed his lips moving in unison, praying with us. It was a holy gathering. I felt the presence of Jesus our Savior, Mary our Mother, and a host of angels and saints. What better way can one prepare for the journey home to the Lord?

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Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Will you join me in praying a Rosary today?

If you already prayed one, then pray one or two more.

Pray one for yourself, one for others, and one for the world.

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Yes, you can! It will soon become your daily routine.

I pray the Rosary in many different places.

Often in the car and on my walks, sometimes first thing in the morning, in bed at night (sometimes falling asleep before I'm done🫣), after visiting the sick, when I hear bad news, before or after Mass...

You can pray anywhere and anytime! You can pray with an APP or video guide.

If you don't have a Rosary, use your 10 fingers to keep track of the Hail Marys.

If you don't know how to pray the Rosary, click here. You will find all you need, plus beautiful artwork!