I don’t find God’s Word funny. He was explicit about repitition in prayer. He said not to do it.
And, Jesus said we can pray to God the Father directly in Jesus name.
You must be talking about this verse then?
Matthew 6: 7
***But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. ***Oops! Looks like Jesus himself forgot that one. There again Jesus is God; so why would he contradict himself? HHmmm. Let’s look at His agony in the garden the night before he died.
Our blessed Lord prostrates himself upon the rocky soil clutching at the very ground for support. He groans in distress and writhes in physical agony. His usual calmness deserts him as he keeps repeating the same prayer over and over again: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
A little bible study always helps me to see the problem. Whilst you focus on the word repetition, and we focus on the words vain repetition. In other words we take it in it’s proper context like all good scholars should!
There is a massive difference between mere vain repetition and repetition. Vain repetition is not done out of love for God but out of love for self. A proud self interested and conceited type of prayer. One that is destined for the eyes and ears of others around us! Of course this type of prayer is ineffectual. It does not serve God. It serves only to bolster the pride and is therefore sinful.
Repetition on the other hand is a very positive means of learning and of deepening ones focus on what they are saying.
Can you, a stalwart of sola scriptura, honestly tell me that you can understand every verse of scripture you read by only reading it once? Never. You must read and reread it in order to bring out its full beauty. This is a well known method of bible study and scriptural prayer.
Repetition without vanity is most acceptable to the Father. This is proven by Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane on the first Holy Thursday night. Jesus was repeating his words as we are told in Matthew 26:36-43
**36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” **
**39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” **
**40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." **
**42He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” **
43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
These words of Christ were never vainly repeated. If they were then he would have had no trust in his Father and this level of despair would have given us reason to doubt his Divinity.
When we Catholics, faithfully repeat our prayers we certainly do not do it vainly. I would certainly hope no Catholic worth their salt would never pray with vain repetition.
Our faith teaches us better than to ever decend this low.
