Pray It Again, Sam

Neglecting to join in the usual family grace before meals, a young lad began eating while the others prayed. Asked to explain himself, he said, "It's all leftovers; it's already prayed over."

You'd think that praying for something once would be enough, since God isn't hard of hearing. Jesus said, "When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before your ask him" (Mt 6:7-8).

It is true that Jesus condemned repetition in prayer, but only vain repetition in prayer, but only vain repetition by those who "think they will be heard because of their many words" (lip service), rather than prayer from the heart, for "out of the over flow of the heart the mouth speaks" (Mt 12:34). And he quoted Isaiah 29:13: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain" (Mt 15:8). Vain repetition is vain worship.

But there is a noble form of repeated prayer that shows a calm, reverent, but ongoing dependence on God for an answer. Jesus spoke of that in his parable of the widow repeatedly importuning the judge for justice until she succeeded. He prefaced the parable by explaining that it was "to show them that they should always pray and not give up" (Lk 18:1). God never tires of hearing us repeat, "I love you, Lord. In your love for me, hear my prayer." 

This excerpt is from the book One-Minute Meditations for Busy People, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/video recordings can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408 or www.Catholicbooks.net