Our readings for the 1st week of Lent are wonderful teachings on prayer. .Prayer is a conversation with God, who made heaven and earth. We can come into God’s presence. Monday’s readings this week remind us of God’s care for everything in heaven and earth. As his children, we’re to share his care for all things.

.In Matthew’s Gospel , Tuesday, Jesus tells us God is “Our Father”.We can come to God as his children. He gives us daily bread, what we need each day. He gives us forgiveness and strength to come to him, no matter what trials we meet. God gives us the gift of prayer to know him. Like the snow and rain that falls constantly on the earth, that gift always falls on us. We can pray to him.

Wednesday’s readings tells us that prayer is about more than ourselves and our own needs. The story of Jonah says we’re part of a world bigger than our own. Like Jonah in Nineveh, we belong to a larger world we must care for, God’s world.

Never lose confidence in prayer and what it makes possible, Jesus tells us in Thursday’s readings. “Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find. Knock and the door with open” .

In Friday’s readings Jesus says we must approach the altar of God’s presence with hearts free from resentment, harsh judgment and anger. Otherwise, our prayer become weak and blind. We cannot see.  (Friday)

We must pray even for our enemies, we hear on Saturday, this week, for our Father in heaven makes the sun shine on the just and the unjust and the rain to fall on saints and sinners.

Lent is an important time to appreciate the gift of prayer. It’s a time for all of us, young or old, even those who don’t pray, to grow in prayer,