“Until you are convinced that prayer is the best use of your time, you will not find time for prayer.”
- Fr. Hillary Ottensmeyer, OSB
Recently I was happy to read that my alma mater Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, MD is filled to capacity. There are 164 seminarians studying for the priesthood. While I was there in 1988 there were two priests from the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ; one was the Rector, Msgr. Richard McGuinness and the other was the Spiritual Director was Fr. Anthony Manocchio. Each Thursday night at 6:30 there was either a Rector’s conference or a spiritual direction meeting. When the Rector spoke, we met in a lecture hall; when the Spiritual Director spoke, we met in the chapel. However, the one thing I’ll always remember is both Msgr. McGuinness and Fr. Manocchio would both comment that there was never a time, morning, afternoon, evening or night, that they did not find at least one seminarian praying in the chapel. That witness always inflamed their commitment to the importance of prayer in our Christian formation.
On this 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we celebrate World Mission Sunday. In the Gospel, there are two very different men who prayed in the Temple in Jerusalem. One is a Pharisee, a Jewish religious leader, and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee considers himself a "model of prayer," however, he trumpets his own "self-importance" and his prayer is an exercise in "self-congratulations." He is so impressed with himself that he actually thanks God that he is not like other people -- namely, that he is not like those “thieves, rogues and adulterers, or even worse, the tax collectors." He even comments that his piety exceeds the requirement of fasting; he fasts twice a week when only one day per year was necessary, the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur. His prayer revolves around himself, that he is "holier than thou," "better than thou," "greater than thou" and "more important than thou." Pride makes one feel superior to others and it blinds us to our own faults which separate from God. Self-adulation, self-flattery and self important stances only make one to be a braggart. This Pharisee is full of himself, puffed with pride, conceit, judgment of others, arrogance, lack of compassion and contempt. There is no ounce of humility in him and he shows no awareness for the need of God’s mercy.
The tax collector on the other hand, is depicted as one who is empty of himself, sorrowful, repentant, ever aware of his shortcomings and filled with the beautiful truth of humility. He is fully aware of his need for God’s mercy and seeks God’s forgiveness and love. I’d imagine that there is a little bit of both the Pharisee and tax collector in each of us. How easy it is to focus our prayer around ourselves, our problems, our perspectives, our plans and our projects without ever acknowledging God’s presence and others’ importance. When one is humble, we are raised to a new height of holiness, but self-conceit plunges us into an abyss of sinfulness.
Upon learning of his terminal cancer and before his death in 1999, Cardinal Basil Hume, the Archbishop of Westminster, England, said to his friend Bishop John Crowley, “If only ... I could start all over again, I would be a much better monk, a much better abbot, a much better bishop. But then I thought how much better if I could come before God when I die -- not to say thank you that I was such a good monk, good abbot, good bishop, but rather, "God be merciful to me, a sinner. For, if I come empty handed, then I will be ready to receive God’s gift.” Jesus challenges us to embrace the humble, God-centered faith of the tax collector and not the self-centered, selfimportant claims of the Pharisee. Humility is the recognition that no matter what our accomplishments in life are, we need God’s help each day. Blessed Pope John XXIII wrote, “True peace is borne of doing the will of God and bearing with patience the sufferings of this life, and does not come from following one’s own whim or selfish desire, for this always brings, not peace and serenity, but disorder and discontent.” Let us not display false piety and false virtue which are attitudes of proud people ever ready to criticize the conduct of others. Rather, let us embrace the wisdom of St. Augustine who wrote in addressing God, “My God, teach me to know myself, for what I am, and I shall have no need of anything else to cover me with confusion and scorn for myself.”
By honestly going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly we can dispose ourselves of having a "heart of contrition." The Sacrament of Reconciliation gives us the opportunity to unburden our hearts and receive the amazing graces of God’s forgiveness, mercy and love. I mentioned in Bible Study this week that Confession is the best medicine for our soul, though our reputation takes a hit. There is no better prescription for spiritual health than to admit that we are a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness. Through sincerity, humility and truthfulness we grow in holiness to which we are called. St. Francis of Assisi noted, “I am what I am before God. Nothing else. Nothing more. Nothing less.” Whenever Francis’ friars were downcast or glum he would recommend them to make a good confession. Sin festers shame and guilt; forgiveness heals through mercy and love.
Last Sunday morning I went to visit the religious education classes and reminded the students of the importance of praying and going to Mass and receiving the sacraments. In today’s times we can’t pre-suppose these essential and fundamental marks of discipleship. St. Peter Julian Eymard wrote, “Going to Mass will prosper the whole day. All your duties will be performed the better for it and your soul will be stronger to bear its daily cross. The Mass is the most holy act of religion; you can do nothing that can give greater glory to God or be more profitable for your soul.”
In the words of my patron saint, Richard of Chichester, “Day by day, day by day, oh dear Lord, three things I pray: to see Thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly, follow Thee more nearly. Day by day.”
