In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
S ometimes, in my impatient unkindness, I have thought that my fellow priests babble like the pagans and think the congregation might hear them because of their many words. I try not to be like them -- for the most part.
But I do think one homily per Mass is enough, and sometimes more than enough. No one in the church needs to be told at great length that today is Christmas. We know the Our Father; we don't need a reminder, explanation of, or exposition about the Lord's Prayer before we recite it.
To hear anything we need silence. The finest orchestra in the world cannot play a symphony if there's a passing freight train just behind the hall. To say anything intelligent or important, we must begin from a silent place, and speak to silent people. Their silence must be more than their closed mouths; it should be a silence of the mind which wants to hear, understand, and sympathize with the speaker. Silence reserves judgment; it doesn't parse sentences, pounce on mispronunciations or misspellings, look for double entendres, or quibble about precise statistics.
Silence is a vacuum that wants to be filled with the speaker's knowledge plus knowledge of the speaker. I might not know what you're saying if I don't know where you're coming from. "Who are you? Speak to me!"
When you pray, do not be like the pagans who create their own idols and then tell them what they should say and do.
Our prayer begins with the reassurance of our Father's concern and compassionate interest. He knows our needs, but we will receive no favors without opening a silent place large enough to receive them.
And so we begin with a right disposition. That is, we are disposed; we have readiness and are available to whatever we might be given by our Father.
It helps to begin by remembering my life is not all about me; nor is it about my wants, preferences, opinions, needs, concerns, or worries. Sometimes it takes several minutes to put all that aside and remember that I am in the Presence of the Almighty God. That's okay! Take your time. He has all the time in the world!
My life is about God. It's about Our Father, and Hallowed be thy name! Ezekiel prophesied the Lord's concern that His holy people, scattered throughout the nations, had become an embarrassment to him. The nations were laughing at God and mocking His name because the people were neither holy nor righteous. And they were forgetting His Name! Their children were mingling among the nations and invoking their pagan gods!
But I will show the holiness of my great name, desecrated among the nations, in whose midst you desecrated it. Then the nations shall know that I am the LORD... when through you I show my holiness before their very eyes.I will take you away from among the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you back to your own soil. (Ezekiel 36: 23-24)
In silence, I hear and revere the Name of God. From the silence of my heart, I open my heart that He might see what I truly need, which may be more than my words can express or the mind, comprehend. "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him!"
Be still and know that I am God.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.