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.
SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ON PRAYER (Part II)
Prayer purifies the soul from our sins. This we are taught by the story of the Publican in the Gospel (Luke 18:9-14), who beached God to show mercy on him and to forgive his sins, and who was really granted this grace. We are taught the same thing by the leper, who was cleansed when he turned to God in repentance (Matthew 8:1-4). For if the destroyed body was healed by God immediately, even more readily will He heal an ailing soul as one who loves mankind. Inasmuch as the soul is more precious than the body, it is more appropriate for God to show greater concern for the health of the soul. One could include many other examples from the Old and the New Testament, if one were to number all those who were saved THROUGH PRAYER.
Someone among he indolent who does not wish to pray diligently may raise an objection about all this with the words spoken by Christ: "Not everyone who simply says, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My heavenly Father" (Matthew 7:21). Certainly someone may indeed day this if I were of the opinion that prayer alone is sufficient for our salvation. But because I say that prayer IS THE CROWN OF GOOD THINGS and the FOUNDATION AND ROOT OF THE VIRTUOUS LIFE, let no one say this as an excuse for their indolence. For neither prudence alone can save without the other virtues, FOR THEY MUST ALL WORK TOGETHER IN OUR SOULS. PRAYER IS ALWAYS THERE AS THE ROOT AND THE FOUNDATION. As the keel makes the ship strong and holds it together as a unified whole, and as the foundations hold up the building, by the same token, our life is upheld and strengthened by prayers, WITHOUT WHICH NOTHING GOOD AND SALUTARY CAN COME TO US. This is why the Holy Apostle Paul insists and constantly reminds us: "CONTINUE EARNESTLY IN PRAYER, BEING VIGILANT IN IT WITH THANKSGIVING" (Colossians 4:2). In other place he says: "REJOICE ALWAYS, PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS; FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Again he says in another place: "PRAYING ALWAYS WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION IN THE SPIRIT, BEING WATCHFUL TO THIS END WITH ALL PERSEVERANCE AND SUPPLICATION" (Ephesians 6:18). With many such divine words the preeminent Apostle Paul exhorts us to live our life with prayer and to constantly nurture our mind with it, because ALL HUMAN BEINGS HAVE NEED OF PRAYER JUST AS TREES HAVE NEED OF WATER. As the trees cannot bear fruit unless they drink from their roots abundant water, SO ALSO WE CANNOT PRODUCE THE PRECIOUS FRUIT OF PIETY UNLESS WE ARE NURTURED BY PRAYER.
This is why we must pray and worship God when we rise from our bed before the dawn of the sun, when we are about to have our meals, and when we prepare to recline for sleep. During the winter months we should devote the greater part of the night to prayers and ascetic vigils. Moreover, we should be praying with much delight, but also with much fear, considering ourselves as fortunate and blessed for being able to worship God. Tell me, how will you look upon the sun if you do not worship the One Who sends upon your eyes that most pleasant and sweet light? How will you enjoy the meal if you do not first thank the Giver and Provider of so many gifts and blessings? With what hope will you spend the hours of the night? What dreams do you hope to see if you do not guard yourself with prayers, but recline for sleep unprotected by prayers? You will be easily despised and become the plaything of the cunning demons, who wander constantly to see which one of us they can opportunistically snatch suddenly by finding us without prayer. But if these demons see us well protected by prayers, they run away like startled thieves and evil doers, seeing that a fiery sword stands by the soldier of Christ in prayer. And if anyone should be found to be barren of any prayer, such a person is readily drawn by the demons and guided toward sins and misfortunes and many other evil things.
(To be continued)
____________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
+ Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +
With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 