Jesus is absolute trust in the Father in person.  Hence, disciples are to trust in the Father in the way that their Master does. 

Vincent says that Jesus is a man of the greatest prayer (SV.EN IX:326).  That means Jesus is always before the Father in prayer (TWVDP 32).  It means, besides, that he needs God, and so, he relies on God and puts his trust in him.

Yes, Jesus prays time and again (Lk 3, 21; 6, 12; 9, 18. 29).  And this time, his being a man that prays always rubs off, it appears, on his disciples.  For they ask him to teach them to pray.  He, in turn, is quick to grant what they ask for; he teaches them a short and simple prayer, a far cry from many a long and elaborate prayer Jews say.

And Jesus’ prayer expresses that we who pray and the one to whom we pray are close, intimate.  For the God we call upon is our Father.  And so, we are his sons and daughters who put our trust in him.

Also, as good children, we wish that others take him for their Father, too, and honor his name.  We seek, besides, his kingdom.  For it will mean that justice, peace, love, concern for each other as brothers and sisters, will win the day.

And our trust in him shows still more in the way we ask for what we need to live.  For we ask just for what we need today; we do not worry about tomorrow and leave it to him.

We, though like those in Sodom and dead in our sins, trust in him also that he will forgive us.  Yet we say at once that we know we cannot hope to be forgiven if we do not forgive others.  And we ask that we do not fall into the temptation of thinking that we do not need him.

Active trust in God and hope in him

Yes, we are to ask and accept thus that we poor.  Yet it is not enough to ask.  For we must also seek and knock.  We must look for what we need and wish for and make noise and cry out.

In other words, we must do our part to bring about the kingdom and his justice.  “With the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brows” (SV.EN XI:32).  We should rack our brains to find ways and means to be “infinitely inventive” (SV.EN XI:131).

And, of course, we should keep on and stay steadfast as we ask, seek and knock.  With trust in our hearts that our good and kind Father in heaven will give us the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will help and teach us weak folks to ask, seek and knock as we should.

Lord Jesus, grant that, lowly, we cast all our worries on the Father and put our whole trust in him.  And give us a taste of the glory to come, of which your Holy Banquet we share is a pledge.

27 July 2025
17th Sunday in O.T. (C)
Gen 18, 20-32; Col 2, 12-14; Lk 11, 1-13