Communal Prayer. A contradiction?

Question

Matthew 6: 5-6
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Doesn't this contradict the celebration of the mass and the communal prayer held by all churches?

Answer 1

no what jesus is talking about is not praying for the sake of show. some people would stand and pray just so others could see them, and think " oh, he's praying, he must be strong in his faith...." something to that extent. They were trying to act like holy men when really they were being vain. Jesus tells the disciples to go into their room so they don't have to be in the eye of the public. The celebration of mass and communal prayer is different. That is a time of worship when everyone is praying at the same time. The "hypocrites" in the bible were people that were praying while the services were not going on