“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their many words.”(Matthew 6:7) In ancient times, Gentile prayer relied on repetition. The pagan gods were not omniscient, as Jesus highlights in Matthew 6, and didn’t know what you needed until you asked. These gods were like distracted humans with superpowers, focused on their own concerns. If you wanted their attention, you had to be the “squeaky wheel.”
It’s like a child in a supermarket who wants candy. She either flatters or whines to get what she wants from a distracted parent. If flattery doesn’t work, persistence becomes her only option. The Gentile prayer method involved both—starting with flattery and continuing with nagging.
Performance vs. Genuine Connection In Jewish practice, blessings were linked to performance, while Gentiles believed the gods responded to persistence. But Jesus offers an alternative: don’t pray like the rest of the world. Pray to a God who already knows what you need. Like a loving parent, God’s attention is on you, and the reward is knowing that you matter to Him.
Jesus shifts the focus from religious performance or persistence to an intimate connection with God. Prayer is not about effort; it’s about trust and rest in a God who sees and cares.
Brother Lawrence and the Practice of Presence Mystics like Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century monk, understood this deeply. He said: “The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees.”
Working in the monastery kitchen, Brother Lawrence found God in every task. For him, prayer was not confined to church; it flowed through the daily, ordinary moments. His practice reminds us that we don’t need elaborate rituals to reach God. He is already present in the simple, everyday moments.
The Present Moment: A Sacred Encounter Sometimes, prayer’s reward sneaks up on us when we quiet our minds. The aroma of morning coffee, a peaceful moment in nature, or the Lord’s supper can awaken us to God’s presence. Mystics intentionally create these experiences by focusing on the present moment, where God’s love is always waiting.
The past is gone, and the future hasn’t arrived. All we have is this moment, rich with God’s presence.
Living the Prayer of Presence
Brother Lawrence’s example invites us to reconsider our own approach to prayer. It’s not about getting God’s attention—it’s about recognizing that we already have it. Whether washing dishes, driving to work, or sitting in silence, God is with us.
In the end, the reward of prayer is the quiet confidence that we are seen, known, and loved by a God who is always present.
Next time we will see how this connects with the most performed and persistent prayer we know…”Our Father, who art in heaven….