A journey to the inner self

"Many cry to God, but not with the voice of the soul, but with the voice of the body; only the cry of the heart, of the soul, reaches God."
-Saint Augustine

"We set forth our petitions before God, not in order to make known to Him our needs and desires, but rather so that we ourselves may realize that in these things it is necessary to turn to God for help."
-Saint Thomas Aquinas

This 30th Sunday in the Ordinary Time we are reminded of how our internal disposition in prayer is important. How do we approach the throne of grace, with humility and confidence or with boastfulness and pride? No one is righteous before the infinite majesty of God. No one is worthy to stand before His presence. Yet in this unworthiness God tells us that we are not worthless. Still one who humbles himself will be exulted; from our imperfections, there strength builds up confidence to approach God and tell Him how we are dependent on Him.

I remembered talking with a priest the other day and asked what is the most important aspect in human formation. He said it is prayer and spirituality. But there is this specific part in prayer that he gave emphasis and which is given less attention nowadays- that of what he called "internalization." It is a going to the inner most depths of one's self. It is a journey within to see and search God in one's heart. God dwells in each one and it is in this journey that we find not only God but who we are as His created beings. We come to an examination of our values, our morals, our actions, and totality in light of God's wonderful work for us.