Many years ago Rabbi Lionel Bloom had an amusing and perceptive article in The Tablet on how people come to prayer. He noted that some people seemed to think that they had to leave to one side whatever was going on in their lives at that moment, and tune in to holy thoughts as these were the only ones appropriate when talking to God. Then he asked, but if that is not you at that moment, who is it that is talking to God just then?

In today’s gospel story of the Pharisee and publican at prayer, the Pharisee was the one who believed he had to come to God with holy holy thoughts, and the publican came just as he was. His prayer was the one that was acceptable to God.

On one occasion when St. Augustine was asked for advice on prayer he wrote: “The Lord God requires us to ask not that thereby our wishes may be made known to Him, for they cannot be unknown to Him, but in order that by prayer there may be aroused in us that desire by which we may receive what God prepares to bestow. His gifts are very great, but we are small and straitened in our capacity to receive. Therefore it is said to us “Make your hearts bigger” (2Cor 6.11). Letter 130.17

That means that we have to recognise our own poverty and our need of God. The Pharisee in the gospel story did not.  The publican did. We need to be in touch with ourselves so that we can come to God just as we are. This is where mindfulness exercises can help. They are not prayer, but can be an excellent preparation for prayer, putting us in touch with ourselves. When we know ourselves, we have taken one step on the road to know God, as Augustine prayed “Lord, help me to know myself, help me to know You.”

A reflection written by John Byrne O.S.A., from our Irish Province

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