Categories: uncategorized
Date: 21 August 2005 07:49:07
I, thanks be to God, am gaining much in reading Fr Hopko's booklet The Orthodox Faith : Sprituality. I am currently reading about prayer, and I pray that what I read may enter into my mind, heart and soul so that I may, one day by God's grace, "[continue] steadfastly in prayer" (Rom 12:12) and "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess 5:17).
Fr Hopko, referring to Scripture and to various Fathers, teachers and theologians of the church, covers a wide variety of topics. He starts with an overview of the necessity, importance and purpose of prayer; he then moves on to a small, but deep, overview of The Lord's Prayer; intercessory prayer follows; and then unceasing prayer (where I'm up to currently). The Jesus Prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner") and Liturgical Prayer lie ahead.
I think I'll need a re-read and there is plenty to ponder, but a few quotes stood out:
On the Lord's Prayer:
Thus, as Archbishop Anthony of Sorouzh has explained, the Lord's Prayer shows the whole meaning of the life of man. (cf. Archbishop Anthony Bloom, Living Prayer) Delivered from evil, man is saved from temptation, in so doing he is merciful to all and receives the forgiveness of his own sins. Being forgiven his sins, by his mercy to others, he has all that he needs for life - his "daily bread"; and being nourished by God, he accomplishes His will. Having accomplished His will, God's Kingdom is present, His name is sanctified and He becomes the Father of the one who shows himself to be in truth the child of God who can say "Our Father."On intercessory prayer:
"It is right to pray not only for one's own purification, but for the purification of every man..." (St. Nilus of Sinai, 5th c., Texts on Prayer)In and through Christ, Christians become competent to intercede before God. In the name of Jesus, Christians are commanded and empowered to pray for each other and for all creation: "on behalf of all and for all." (Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom)
To understand intercessory prayer, one must remember the eternal providence of God. One must grasp the fact that God knows all things eternally and takes into consideration each act of man in His overall plan. With this perspective one can then see that even before the creation of the world, God has heard, or rather, more accurately, eternally hears, the cries of His people. He considers man's prayers in all that He does in His dealings with men. Thus it is the case that God does not wait to see what we do or how we will pray. He considers our actions and prayers from the perspective of eternity. And in the light of our desires and deeds He sees that "all things work together for good for those who love God." (Romans 8:28)
On unceasing prayer:
They also tell beginners - and St. Dimitry of Rostov says that we are all beginners, no matter how advanced - never to go back and repeat prayers done poorly. They tell us rather to put ourselves at the mercy of God, and to try to do better the next time. This method reduces the possibility of thinking that God hears our prayers according to the perfection of our performance and not according to the greatness of His mercy, and safeguards against both pride and despair. It gives humility and hope, and keeps us always forging ahead. (cf. Luke 9:62, Philippians 3:13-15)We are not commanded to work, keep vigil or fast without ceasing, but we are commanded to pray without ceasing. For...prayer purifies, and strengthens the mind which was created to pray...and to fight the demons for the protection of all the powers of the soul. (Evagrius of Pontus, 4th c.)
He who has entered his room (i.e. his heart) and prays without ceasing has included in this all prayer everywhere. (St. Mark the Ascetic, 4th c., Direction from Discourses)
Let no one think, my brother Christians, that it is the duty only of priests and monks to pray without ceasing, and not of laymen. No, no; it is the duty of all Christians to remain always in prayer.
...bear in mind the method of prayer - how it is possible to pray without ceasing, namely by praying in the mind. And this we can do always if we wish. For when we sit down to work with our hands, when we walk, when we eat, when we drink we can always pray mentally and practice this mental prayer - the true prayer pleasing to God.
This mental prayer is the light which illumines man's soul and inflames his heart with the fire of love for God. It is the chain linking God with man and man with God. Oh, the incomparable blessing of mental prayer. It allows a man constantly to converse with God.
And what other and greater rewards can you wish than this, when...you are always before the face of God, constantly conversing with Him - conversing with God, without whom no person can ever be blessed, either here or in the life still to come. (St. Gregory Palamas, 14th c., How All Christians In General Must Pray Without Ceasing)