Homily for June 21, 2018.
“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them.” Matthew 6:7-8.
Yesterday, Jesus warned us against using prayer as a public display of piety. Prayer is not some kind of dress we wear but a relationship we enter into. Prayer should never be used to attract the attention of people neither should it be addressed to human beings. Prayer is not a sermon. Prayer is engaging God in a one-on-one conversation as such Jesus recommends that we do it in secret.
Remember the two men who went to pray? Jesus said the Pharisee, prayed to himself because even if he was talking to God, he was trying to humiliate the tax collector besides him. Perhaps if the tax collector was not there, he would have prayed differently. Most of the time, we don’t pray to God, we actually pray to people. No wonder, some persons find it extremely difficult to pray when alone; it’s either they sleep off within minutes or they skip prayer entirely.
Some raise their voice so that even passers-by can hear the content of their prayer. Some only pray when given the microphone or when asked to open their mouths in the church to pray (i.e. the popular rowdy prayer session). The truth I must admit is that such prayers are people-centred and not God-centred. Hence, the shouting involved! Each person tries to be louder than the other as though it’s a competition.
When we understand that prayer is always a one-on-one affair with God (an exchange between two lovers), we immediately see the reason why Jesus would often go alone to a quiet place to pray. We then understand that prayer is not so much about the number of words we use, (continuous repetition) but the way and manner in which these words are said. Have you seen two persons in love talking to each other? Do you hear them shouting at the top of their voices with neither of them making effort to listen to the other? Do you hear any of them issuing angry commands?
In teaching us to pray, Jesus achieved three feats at once:
One: Jesus makes us understand that prayer requires a structure; a formula; a plan. When I first got an opportunity to speak with my state Governor a few years ago, I remember taking my time to prepare my speech, I was so scared of not saying it right, I took a piece of paper to write it down. How sad, when I want to talk to God, I just bump on him, no structure, no pre-meditation, to silent moment to recollect before prayer, I just open my mouth and begin to babble! I say things as they come to my mind not as I planned as such my mind begins to wander around the world during prayer like a hunter running around the bush looking for rabbits. No wonder such prayer leaves me distracted and more worried than anything else.
Two: Jesus makes us realize that when we pray, we are addressing God as Father. In other words, there should be some amount of respect on our part. Prayer requires adoration, veneration, worship. Apart from the words we say, our gestures are important. The act of kneeling beside our bed with our heads almost resting on the bed has become the most popular posture for prayer but you and I will agree that this is an invitation to sleep rather than a serious business with God.
Three: Prayer, no matter the words we use must involve thanksgiving and a strong commitment to forgive others. Jesus says: “Do not babble… for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” In other words, Jesus seeks to remove emphasis from supplications which are indeed Ninety-Nine per cent (99%) of all our prayers. Do you notice that only one line of the Lord’s Prayer asks for our needs: “Give us this day our daily bread.”? Dear friends, asking for our needs is not even as important as forgiving those who hurt us, not even as important as praising and thanking God.
Finally, the Lord’s Prayer may be a very short prayer but it is packed full with meaning. It really doesn’t matter how short or long our prayers are, we must bear in mind that if at all we must pray, we must use meaningful words, we must apply structure and our minds must focus on God and not on our needs per say. Remember forgiveness is part of prayer.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, I realize I have not often prayed well. Transform my prayer life today. Amen. St. Alphonsus Gonzaga, pray for us.
*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of the 11th week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Sirach 48:1-14, Psalm 97:1-7, Matthew 6:7-15).*
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