How did Jesus pray? Jesus life was one single prayer. At decisive moments (his temptation in the desert, his selection of the apostles, his death on the Cross) his prayer was especially intense. Often he withdrew into solitude to pray, especially at night. Being one with the Father in the Holy Spiritthat was the guiding principle of his earthly life. How did Jesus pray as he was facing his death? When face to face with death, Jesus experienced the utmost depths of human fear. Yet he found the strength even in that hour to trust his heavenly Father: Abba, Father, all things are possible to you; remove this chalice from me; yet not what I will, but what you will [be done] (Mk 14:36). Times of need teach us to pray. Almost everyone experiences that in his life. How did Jesus pray when he was threatened by death? What guided him in those hours was his absolute willingness to entrust himself to the love and care of his Father. Yet Jesus recited the most unfathomable prayer of all, which he took from the Jewish prayers for the dying: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mk 15:34, citing Ps 22:1). All the despair, all the laments, all the cries of mankind in all times, and yearning for Gods helping hand are contained in this word of the Crucified. With the words, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Lk 23:46), he breathed forth his spirit. In them we hear his boundless trust in his Father, whose power knows the way to conquer death. Thus Jesus prayer in the midst of dying already anticipates the Easter victory of his Resurrection.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 13:04:10 +0000