We celebrate the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

It is interesting that Luke gives more attention to Jesus’ teaching on prayer than any other Gospel writer. In today’s Gospel, at the request of a disciple, Jesus teaches the disciples about prayer with a simple version of the most famous Christian prayer, the Our Father.

He relates a parable on the persistent neighbor, and assures us that God hears our prayers. Webster defines prayer as -“words of worship or entreaty to God.” Is our prayer life just our needs and wants or do we take the time to quietly reflect on our relationship with God?

As I have grown older, I have come to realize that my prayer life consists less of the wonderful prayers I learned growing up and more of a quiet and simple conversation with a friend. A friend that will hold me in the palm of His hand through the good and challenged times of my life.

We live in challenged times. Our youth have very little time to be young. They are bombarded with the challenge to be the best in school, sports etc. There is no second place any longer; you either win or you’re a looser. Violence and drugs surround them every day and the media pays little or no attention to the good so many of our young people accomplish. Society seems to have lost its way and scrambles for peace and respect for each other.

Perhaps, today would be a good day to find a quite place to sit and have that long overdue conversation with the Best Friend we will ever have.