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.
Orthodox "Unceasing Prayer": "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
have mercy on me, a sinner" or "Jesus Prayer."
In our Holy Orthodox Tradition we have profound spiritual wealth in every aspect of our Christian faith. A specifically Christian prayer presupposes two foundational beliefs: (a) belief in God Who is of personal nature but surpasses or transcends the worldly order which He created and Who has been revealed in the Holy Bible as the Creator of All things and the Ruler over His creation; (b) acceptance of an intimate relation between God and man, brought to the knowledge of man by the redemptive work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Incarnate.
The Orthodox Christian Jesus Prayer is a cornerstone of Orthodox spirituality, rooted in 4th-5th century Desert Monasticism (e.g. Saint John Chrysostomos) and popularized by the Philokalia. It is used to achieve "UNCEASING PRAYER" (1 Thessalonians 5:17), focusing the mind on our Lord and Savior on Jesus Christ, fostering humility, and fighting temptation. It is often said using a Prayer Rope (Komboskini). The prayer combines the Publican’s prayer ("God be merciful to me a sinner," Luke 18:13 and the cry of the blind man ("Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me," (Mark 10:47). It emerged in the 4th-5th century in early Monasticism as a short formula for mental prayer. Its development is tied to the Monastic Tradition of the Sinai, Egypt, and Mt. Athos. Also, in the 14th century Hesychasm, became central to Hesychasm, a tradition of INNER STILLNESS AND CONTEMPLATION, defended by one of the great Holy Fathers of the Church Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki, Greece. The purpose and goal is to bring the mind of the believer into the heart, allowing the prayer to become a constant state of being rather than just an action. The Jesus Prayer affirms the two central tenets of the Holy Gospel the DIVINE and HUMAN NATURE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD.
The Jesus Prayer is repeated constantly–during work, travel or at designated times. A Prayer Rope (Komboskini) is used to concentrate on the prayer. The Prayer Rope may have 33, 50, 100,300 knots which is often used to maintain count. It can be said sitting, standing, or with prostrations, often accompanied by the sign of the cross. There are variations i.e., "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner" (Full form). "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me." "Lord, have mercy." "Jesus, mercy." The purpose again is to UNITE THE BELIEVER WITH THE ALMIGHTY GOD CALLED (THEOSIS OR DEIFICATION).
Abba (Father) Macarius of Egypt said there is no need to waste time with words. It is enough to hold out you hands and say, "Lord, according to Your desire and Your wisdom, have mercy." If pressed to the struggle, say, "Lord, save me!" or say "Lord." He knows what is best for us, and will have mercy upon us.
The Orthodox Christian is never very far from the Holy Scripture which reveres and believes that it is truly the word of God. How can any Christian not make the Holy Scripture a daily spiritual nourishment and be inspired by the word of God. Can anyone be a Christian and never to feel the need to read the Holy Bible, both the Old and New Testaments. There is an inspiring prayer that the Orthodox priest says before he reads the Gospel lesson of the day during the Divine Liturgy which is: "Shine in our hearts, O Merciful Master, the pure light Thy Divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our mind that we may understand the teachings of Thy Gospel; implant in us also the fear of Thy Blessed Commandments, that we, trampling down all carnal desires, may enter upon a spiritual manner of living both thinking and doing all those things that please Thee. For Thou art the Source of Light for our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thy Eternal Father, and Thine All-Holy, Good, and Life-Creating Spirit, now and forever, and from all ages to all ages. Amen."
Along with prayer, fasting, repentance, forgiveness and worship, the Orthodox faithful practice philanthropy. If one truly practices his Christian faith daily he or she cannot exclude helping the poor. The Greek word Philanthropia (from the Greek Φιλανθρωπία), the Greek φιλείν, to love; and ανθρωπος, man. In the Orthodox Church the term ‘philanthropia’ bears a Doctrinal connotation as well as moral implications. In the New Testament, ‘philanthropia’ was used by Saint Paul (Titus 3:4) to describe God’s agape for man as manifested by the Incarnation of His Only-Begotten Son.
The Doctrine of ‘PHILANTHROPOS GOD’ is frequently used in ethical admonitions; as God love man, so man MUST LOVE HIS FELLOW MAN. The moral connotation of ‘philanthropia’ has been concretely translated in the Church’s overall concern for charity expressed by way of philanthropic institutions such as orphanage, homes for the aged, reformatory institutions, and other foundations of social welfare. Our Lord Jesus Chrsit makes it mandatory when He says, "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will also answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE, YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ME.’ And these will go into EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS INTO ETERNAL LIFE" (Matthew 25:41-46). Jesus identifies Himself with the POOR AND THE OUTCAST and invites to brotherhood ALL WHO ARE KINDLED WITH LOVE FOR OTHERS (1 John 4:20). These ARE CROWNED WITH GRACE.
Therefore when the Orthodox Christian is traversing through Holy and Great Lent while focusing and concentrating on fasting and prayer we cannot ignore the plight of our fellow man who is struggling daily. We live in a materialistic world where greed and the desire for amusement and fun (pleasure) is beyond the pale. Today’s two main idols of humanity are MONEY and PLEASURE (GREED AND HEDONISM (PLEASURE). No one can speak or think of having a spiritual life if he or she is absorbed by either one of these grave sins. The Lenten period affords us the opportunity to overcome and free ourselves from these major temptations and passions. We cannot be hypocrites and pretend to be Christians as long as we are enslaved by these wicked desires. Abstaining from certain foods will NOT save a person but doing God’s will and abiding by His Commandments.
"LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER"
___________
"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 