Family Bible Study - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Passage
Luke 11:1 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said
to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you
pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily
bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not
bring us to the time of trial.” 5 And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you
go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 for a friend of
mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 And he answers from within, ‘Do not
bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get
up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything
because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever
he needs. 9 “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock,
and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who
searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone
among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the
child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good
gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those
who ask him!”

Questions for discussion -

1. “Lord, teach us to pray!” Jesus wants to teach us how to pray, by his own example, by his own recorded prayers in the Gospel, and especially through the Our Father. What does the Our Father mean? Why do you think Jesus teaches us pray to the Father rather than Him?

2. Jesus tells us to persevere in prayer like the person trying to get loaves from a
neighbor. How persistent are you in prayer?

3. Jesus promises that the Father wants to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
How often do you pray for the really important things, for heaven, for eternal life, for holiness, for an increased relationship with God, for the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry