DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Ephesians 6:18-24
(10/9)
Epistle for Friday of the Eighteenth Week after Pentecost
The Seal of the Spirit V ~ Pray Always: Ephesians
6:18-24, especially vs. 18: “...praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with
all perseverance and supplication
for all the saints....” As
What is new in this portion of the Epistle is
The Apostle Paul admonishes the Faithful to pray at all
times. Prayer is to be the constant
of the Christian life, since, by its nature, prayer is “...the converse
and union of man with God,” as Saint John of Sinai says. As susceptible as we are to distraction,
deception, and delusion - either by our passions or the spirits of evil -
“converse and union” with God are necessary if we hope to attain
purity of heart. Prayer, as
spiritual struggle, concentrates on Divine converse until we are one - “I
in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one...” (Jn.
17:23).
Moreover, Who but God alone can purify us? Listen to the counsel of the wise John
of Sinai: “Until we have acquired genuine prayer, we are like people
teaching children to begin to walk.”
Let us be patient and persistent, as the Apostle counsels,
keeping alert and persevering (vs. 18).
Prayer helps us discern that which draws us away from God,
and more: through the mighty aid of the Spirit, prayer helps banish all
thoughts that inevitably assault our efforts to maintain union with the
Lord. These benefits led the
Fathers to teach the use of what they call 'monologia,'
or 'singleness of thought.' The
Jesus Prayer is the best known and the most tried and proven form of 'monologia.'
Regular, persistent use of the simple Jesus prayer reveals our scattered
spiritual condition to us. Thus, be
encouraged in the struggle by Saint John of Sinai's word: “What is obtained by
frequent and prolonged prayer is lasting.”
What is obtained?
For one thing, singleness or sincerity of heart. We know the potential for mixed
motives. Prayer in the Spirit
uniquely discloses such confusion, exposing that which is of God from
that which is of the world, from our passions,or from demonic suggestion.
Persistent prayer is like clarifying butter - a slow,
protracted heating allows impurities to rise to the surface and then to be
skimmed off. As we pray, the soul
warms, and little by little it is cleansed through prayer, until the heart
reaches true singleness and purity.
Prayer also creates a genuine desire to impart grace to
others. And the consistent mark of
those who impart grace is a life saturated in prayer. These rely on sustaining prayer whatever
outward conditions they face. Then,
as
Prayer also illumines the heart to perceive one’s
place in the Body of Christ. Thus comes the readiness to submit to others. As
O Lord, direct my will; teach me to pray; pray Thou Thyself in me.
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