ASCETICISM = A LIFE OF STRUGGLE AND SELF-DENIAL Part II

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

Asceticism = A Life of Struggle and Self-Denial [Part II]

The whole history of the Church has been built on struggles: at first sufferings of the Martyrs in the earliest Christian age; then the self-sacrificing labors of the pillars of the Church, the hierarchs; and then the personal ascetic struggles, spiritual attainments in the battle with the flesh, on the part of the desert dwellers and other strugglers– "earthly angels and heavenly men," the righteous ones who have lived in the world without being defiled by the world. And thus up to now Orthodox Christianity is adorned with CONFESSORS and MARTYRS FOR FAITH IN CHRIST. And our Holy Church supports in believers this duty of SELF-RESTRAINT AND SPIRITUAL CLEANSING BY MEANS OF INSTRUCTIONS OF EXAMPLES FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL AND THE WHOLE SACRED SCRIPTURE, BY THE EXAMPLES OF THE SAINTS, BY THE RULES OF THE CHURCH TYPICON, BY VIGILS, FASTS, AND APPEALS TO REPENTANCE.

The very "body of the Church" is holy: "If the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root be holy, so are the branches" [Romans 11:16]. Those who believe in Christ are "TEMPLES OF GOD," "TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT" [I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19]. In the true Church there have always been and there always are people of the highest spiritual purity and with special gifts of Grace–MARTYRS, VIRGINS, ASCETICS, HOLY MONKS AND NUNS, HIERARCHS, RIGHTEOUS ONES, BLESSED ONES. The Church has an uncounted choir of departed ones of all times and peoples. It has manifestations of the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit, both visible and hidden from the eyes of the world.3:15

The Church is holy by its CALLING, or ITS PURPOSE. It is holy also by ITS FRUITS: "YE HAVE YOUR FRUIT UNTO HOLINESS, AND THE END EVERLASTING LIFE" [Romans 6:22], as the Apostle Paul instructs us. The Church is holy likewise through its PURE, INFALLIBLE "TEACHING OF FAITH: THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD IS," according to the word of God, "THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH" [I Timothy 3:15].

No Orthodox Christian who is struggling spiritually is ever without prayer on his/her lips. It is through prayer that we communicate with our Creator and Savior. There are different kinds of prayer such as public and private. There is prayer which is of words, and in particular sung, and there is mental prayer, that is, inward prayer, or the prayer of the mind in the heart. Mental (noetic) prayer, inward prayer, and prayer of the mind in the heart are usually associated with the Jesus Prayer: "LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER; or inits shorter form, "LORD JESUS CHRIST, HAVE MERCY ON ME." Holy Ascetics of the Church have reached great heights of inward prayer with the aid of the Jesus Prayer; however, this Prayer is not reserved for such ascetics only. Saying the Jesus Prayer is a fundamental practice of Orthodox Spiritual Life, which should be undertaken by ALL ORTHODOX Christians, both Monastic and lay.

The content of prayer is [a] praise or glory; [b] thanksgiving; [c] repentance; [d] entreaty for the mercy of God, for the forgiveness of sins, for the giving of good things of soul and body, both heavenly and earthly. Repentance before God sometimes has the form OF A CONVERSATION WITH ONE’S OWN SOUL. Prayer may be for oneself or for others. As a matter of fact the power of prayer for others is constantly affirmed by the word of God. Saint Paul says, "Brethren, pray for us, that the word of hte Lord might have free course and be glorified, even as it is with you" [2 Thessalonians 3:1]. Also, "Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Holy Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me" [Romans 15:30].

No Orthodox Christian must ever feel that he or she is struggling alone. "And this is the confidence that we have in Him (the Son of God), "that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him’ [1 John 5:14]. There is nothing that we say or do that our Heavenly Father does not see or hear. Having a strong and sincere faith in Him will always give us the assurance that He loves us and that He is always present. Some Christians become frustrated when they do not receive an immediate answer to their entreaty to God, however, God responds to us according to His will. Time is non-existent for Him. We, on the other hand, are prisoners and hostages of time and ruled by time. Perhaps this is why all of us have a watch on our wrist, a clock in our home or business etc. We constantly look at what time it is. What we consider an hour, a day, a month, a year or more, means nothing to God. This is possibly the reason why people are frustrated because they have not heard anything from God within a specific time frame. In other words, they say to themselves I will give God a specific time to answer to my appeal, i.e., a day, a month, a year, etc. and when one does not get an answer then they either give up trying or are disappointed and hurt. Trust in God and have faith in Him and He will respond to your prayer at His appropriate time and not yours.

Just like our struggle never ceases as long as we are living in this world, prayer must also be unceasing. Prayer is our lifeline to God. As long as we keep the means of communication open with Him, we will continue receive life-giving guidance from Him. If we are to achieve anything of importance and of value, it will always be because of the grace of the Holy Spirit. If we succeed in our struggles, it will be because of the grace of the Holy Spirit and not because of our determination or effort. None of us can take any credit for any accomplishment or success. We must never become proudful or egotistical but, to instead give glory and praise to God for all things, for we can do nothing without Him. [Resources: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology].

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George