Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
People often ask about prayer. Many want to know what it is and how to begin. Perhaps the simplest and most fundamental answer is that prayer is dialogue with God. It is a heart-to-heart conversation with the person who knows you more than your most intimate friend. God knows our hearts. He knows our needs. He knows what we are and what we are not. There is no fooling him.
In the Gospel passage today, Christ uses the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector to teach us the proper attitude for prayer. He tells us, “Don’t be afraid to be real with me. You don’t have to try to impress me. I know you better than you know yourself. I love you more than you love yourself. I know you are hurting. I know you have wounds. I know you have been battered by the storms of life and that you are tired and beat up. I am here for you. Give it all to me. Let me heal you. Let me give you new life. Let me be your strength. I desire to give you more and better things than you could ever imagine or wish for yourself. Let me give you my infinite love. Let me give you new purpose. Lean on me. Rest in me. Give me your heart and I will do all things for you. Come, and stay with me and rest in Me alone.”