On Ash Wednesday, he instructed us that when we pray we are “not to be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them.” There Lord here isn’t saying that we shouldn’t pray, or shouldn’t pray in public. Rather, the Lord is criticizing the motive of these hypocrites. They wanted to appear to be righteous. “Don’t pray with the motive of being seen by others.” Prayer isn’t play acting, it isn’t about appearances. That’s hypocrisy. Rather, prayer is about genuine communing with God. “When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.”
Whether we are in public or private, we are to go to the inner room with recollected minds and hearts truly open to God in meaningful, transformative encounter.
In today’s Gospel, the Lord gives additional instruction. Here again, Jesus first criticizes fake prayer. “Do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.” Again, Jesus isn’t criticizing repetition in prayer, he’s certainly not criticizing persistence in prayer. Rather, he’s criticizing babbling, offering words mindlessly. Mindless babble. Don’t just rattle off words of a prayer thinking that the fact that you are rattling it off is what is pleasing to God. Offer your prayer with intentionality. Jesus urges us to avoid all superficiality in prayer, and teaches us to seek a more authentic, heartfelt, mindful relationship with God.
It is not the sheer quantity of words that is pleasing to God. It is not quantity but quality, which is needed for a genuine, living relationship with God.
The Lord condemns the pharisees, over and over, for seeking to appear pious, while their hearts are far from God and genuine concern for neighbor. Genuine Christian piety is centered on building a real and personal relationship with God. It goes beyond mechanical practices and involves a deep connection of the heart with the Divine. This relationship is based on trust, love, and open communication. It is better to fold socks for your loved ones with a genuine spirit of prayer, than to spend ten hours babbling mindlessly in Church.
The Lord’s condemnation of empty repetition reveals that true piety is not merely an external display but involves an inner transformation of the heart. It's about cultivating a genuine love for God and allowing that love to shape one's thoughts, actions, and prayers.
So when you pray, pray slowly, mindfully, sincerely, honestly, thinking about the meaning of the words, and what they entail for growing in personal relationship with God. St. Paul says, let your love be sincere. Well, if prayer is an expression of love for God, then prayer, if it is to be prayer, must be sincere.
May our Lenten prayer bring about true transformation of heart and a growth in faith, hope, and love, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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For the whole Christian people, that in this sacred Lenten season, they may be more abundantly nourished by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
For the whole world, that in lasting tranquility and peace our days may truly become the acceptable time of grace and salvation.
For sinners and those who neglect right religion, that in this time of reconciliation they may return wholeheartedly to Christ.
For ourselves, that God may at last stir up in our hearts aversion for our sins and conviction for the Gospel.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ Our Lord.
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