Pray from the heart

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Francis Gonsalves [1]

A wealthy woman tourist from the West was admiring a native’s necklace. “What’s it made of?” she inquired. The native replied, “Alligator’s teeth.” Amused, the tourist asked, “So I guess it’s as valuable for you as pearls are for us?” “Not quite,” replied the native, “Anyone can open an oyster.”

What is valuable for one need not be of great value to someone else. So also, certain spiritual duties — they might seem to be valuable, when, in fact, they are not.
Currently, Christians are in the midst of a 40-day period called Lent to reflect upon Jesus’ sufferings and death. During Lent, believers are enjoined to perform three religious duties: pray, fast and give alms (Matthew 6:1-18). While many of us meticulously monitor our hours of prayer, weigh our food intake and keep count of the cash we give in charity so as “to do” the right thing, Jesus exhorts us to question the “why” behind “what” we do.
Jesus warns about hypocrisy in prayer: “When you pray, do not be like hypocrites who love to pray at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others.” But, Jesus says, “When you pray, go into your room, shut the door and pray to your heavenly Father who is in secret.” Any prayer done to earn praise from others is no prayer at all. But meditation or dhyan done with true devotion cleanses the heart of ego-centredness and orients us towards loving and serving all.
Our fasting could be flawed, too. One might fast because “the Bible says so!” Or because one is gaining weight. Or to proudly prove to one’s detractors, “See, I too can do without food!” An acquaintance who was known to drink immoderately, proudly proclaimed, “During the 40 days of Lent I don’t drink even a drop of liquor!” His daughter whispered, “But daddy makes up after that.”
Rather than propose any hard-and-fast fasting rules, Jesus simply says, “When you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show others that they’re fasting. But, when you fast, wash your face and oil your head so that your fasting may not be noticed by others.” Fasting with a smile prevents our fasts from drawing applause. It also makes us aware of millions of poor Indians forced to fast.
Finally, almsgiving or daan does not mean merely giving money to the needy, but total giving of oneself, too. Jesus says, “The measure you give is the measure you receive.” At the heart of daan is the grateful awareness that everything one has is God’s gift. Ultimately, praying, fasting and almsgiving should spring from grateful, loving hearts. Therein lies their value.

Francis Gonsalves is the principal of the Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi.