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himself to the One who in giving gives
himself. The Giver is more precious than the gift; he is the
‘treasure’; in him abides his Son’s
The priestly prayer of Jesus holds a
unique place in the economy of 2746 salvation.’2 A
meditation on it will conclude Section One. It reveals the
ever present prayer of our High Priest and, at the same
time, contains what he teaches us about our prayer to our
Father, which will be developed in Section Two. 2605 When the hour has come for him to fulfil the
Father’s plan of love, Jesus allows a glimpse of the
boundless depth of his filial prayer, not only before he
freely delivered himself up (‘Abba... not my will,
but yours’),53 but even in his last words on the
Cross, where prayer and the gift of self are but one:
‘Father, forgive them, 614 for they know not what
they do’;54 ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will
be with me in Paradise’;55 ‘Woman, behold your
son’ — ‘Behold your mother’;~6
‘I thirst’;57 ‘My God, my God, why have you
forsaken me?’;~8 ‘It is finished’;59
‘Father, into your hands I commit my
spirit!’6° until the ‘loud cry’ as he
expires, giving up his spirit.6’
2606 All the troubles, for all time, of humanity enslaved
by sin ~o3 and death, all the petitions and
intercessions of salvation history are summed up in this cry
of the incarnate Word. Here the Father accepts them and,
beyond all hope, answers them by raising his 653 Son.
Thus is fulfilled and brought to completion the drama of
prayer in the economy of creation and salvation. The Psalter
gives 2587 us the key to prayer in Christ. In the
‘today’ of the Resurrection the Father says:
‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you. Ask of me,
and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of
the earth your possession.~ó2
The Letter to the Hebrews expresses in dramatic
terms how the prayer of Jesus accomplished the victory
of salvation: ‘In the days of his flesh,Jesus
offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and
tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and
he was heard for his godly fear. Although he was a Son,
he learned obedience through what he suffered, and being
made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to
all who obey him.’6’ |
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