As we begin the season of Lent, we do think about our piety. For many of us it might mean giving something up for Lent or it might mean cultivating certain disciplines where we have a direct focus.
The Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday directs us to our piety in regard to prayer. Jesus said, "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." Matthew 6:5-7
When we pray we don't need to make a public display of it. We don't need to appear to be more pious than someone else. We don't need to "boast" about our praying.
At best, we are directed to keep it private so that there is no pretension. The form here is just as important as the substance. The form keeps prayer anchored in a humble attitude, where we realize we are just "beggars before God," to use an expression from Martin Luther.
The same goes for the number of words that we use. It doesn't depend on how many words we use or how often we repeat a certain phrase. It's all a matter of being sincere within ourselves.
How is your posture in prayer? Is there anything that needs to be changed to keep you reverent and humble as you pray?
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