“But there is another and interior way of praying without ceasing, and that is the way of desire. Whatever else you are doing, if you long for that Sabbath, you are not ceasing to pray. If you do not want to cease praying, do not cease longing. Your unceasing desire is your unceasing voice.”
READ: MATTHEW 6:1–6, 16–18
“Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. . . . When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.”
YOUR THREE-STEP GUIDE TO DAILY MENTAL PRAYER
REFLECT
Hidden behind this sobering lesson against the temptation of hypocrisy is a beautiful revelation of the heart of Christ. He points out that He sees “what is done in secret.” He repeats this three times. He has seen all of the most selfish, vitriolic, and morose chapters of each of our ongoing interior monologues — everything. He knows it all. And yet He still loves us with the tender love of the perfect father, the perfect friend. If this doesn’t prove what unconditional love really is, nothing does.
But it doesn’t stop there. He wants us to let Him into that monologue, to turn it into an ongoing dialogue, a conversation with Him. He wants to take part in everything we do; He wants to be our closest companion, our most intimate friend. And why? Because He has some psychological need that we can pacify for Him? No. Just the opposite. Because He has more that He wants to give us. He has a reward to give each one of us, the reward of our true name (see Rev. 2:17), our fulfillment, the satisfaction of our deepest yearnings — most of all, He wants to give us Himself, now and for all eternity.
RESPOND
You see all my motives and intentions, but I think sometimes I try to hide from them. Show them to me, Lord. I don’t want anything to get in the way of our friendship. I don’t want to fall into hypocrisy. I want to do all things out of a humble, sincere love for You. With the humility of Your heart, Lord, shape my heart.
REST
At times, life seems so complicated, but You simplify it. Stay with me, Lord; walk with me; teach me how to love You, to love my neighbor, and to master my selfish tendencies. With the silence of Your heart, speak to my heart.
RESOLVE
How can I carry this encounter with me into the day? (Write / Journal)
CLOSING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Most Blessed and Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for Your love and Your grace in allowing me this time of prayer with You.
The world, the flesh, and the devil will all propose things I should focus on and run after today. I beg You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me instead to know and embrace Your will. Help me to see what You desire of me each moment of this day. Give me the wisdom, strength, and fortitude I need to avoid distractions, discern Your will, and focus on and carry out that which Wisdom reveals. Help me to work and live at a pace of peace and prayerfulness, always attentive to You, able to hear Your voice and to say no to anything that hinders my journey to You and a complete yes to every Holy prompting from You.
Help me to humbly and purposefully live, light, and lead others to the path of union with You and to tell everyone about this way of life. Amen.
About the Author
Fr. John Bartunek was ordained in 2003. He has taught moral theology at various ecclesiastical institutions at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has authored many books, including the Gospel companion, The Better Part, and Inside the Passion, the only authorized behind-the-scenes look at the film, for which he provided on-set spiritual support. His online retreat guides are available in multiple formats at RCSpirituality.org. Fr. John currently resides in Atlanta, where he is serving as territorial vicar for the Legionaries of Christ.
