The Jesus Prayer

“The more rain falls on the earth, the softer it makes it; similarly, Christ’s holy name gladdens the earth of our heart the more we call upon it.” — St. Hesychois the Priest, from the Philokalia

Just quote sharing, with nothing particular to say.

Martyrdom + Love

((http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=422))

Nicephoros the Martyr of Antioch

February 9

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received the prize of the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the
demons’ strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

Kontakion in the First Tone
Bound fast with chains of love, thou didst mightily sunder the wickedness of hatred with manifest courage, and hence, O Nicephorus, when the sword had cut off thy head, thou wast shown to be a godly Martyr of Jesus, our Incarnate Saviour; pray Him for us who honor thy glorious memory.

Reading:

This Martyr, who was from Antioch in Syria, contested during the reign of Gallienus, about the year 260. Through the working of the evil one, his friendship with a certain Christian priest named Sapricius was turned to bitter hatred. Nicephorus, repenting of his enmity, tried both through intermediaries and in person to be reconciled with Sapricius, but to no avail. Later, when the persecution broke out under Valerian and Gallienus, Sapricius was seized as a Christian. When Saint Nicephorus learned that Sapricius had been arrested by the pagans and was enduring torments for Christ, he sent intermediaries to Sapricius, begging his forgiveness; but Sapricius would not forgive him. Later, as Sapricius was being taken to beheading, Nicephorus, hoping that Sapricius, at his end, in such a holy hour, would at last forgive him, met him on the way, fell before him, and fervently asked his forgiveness; but Sapricius forgave him not. Wherefore, though Sapricius had passed through many sufferings, and the crown of martyrdom was now awaiting him, because he disdained the chief
commandments of love and forgiveness, the grace of God, which had been strengthening him in his torments, departed from him, and he told his executioners he would sacrifice. Nicephorus immediately confessed Christ before them, and being himself beheaded, took the crown that Sapricius had cast away.

“…though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” ~ 1 Cor. 13:3

Minutes for 1/7/08

House Blessings for Theophany!

Well, dorm/apt. blessings. Same thing.

:)

The Wait

((From: http://southern-orthodoxy.blogspot.com/2004_08_01_archive.html ))

It was only a dream.

Yet, for an eternal moment I felt as if I were the only person in the universe, floating through a vast darkness — no light, anywhere.

Then, off in the distance, I saw a blinding white light such as I’d never seen before.

As I approached the light, I became increasingly aware of all the sinful actions of my life.

But it was more than that. I also became extremely aware of my attitudes, past thoughts and prejudices — so much so that I wanted to leave my body. I wanted to jump out of this dirty sinful self and into the bright Holy Light …

But I could not.

Instead, I entered the brilliant unknown realm just as I was …

I was greeted by someone that I perceived to be an angel. Unlike the angels I’d always imagined, this being had no wings, no harp, no baby face. He did not sit on a cloud of white.

However, he was extremely beautiful.

“Welcome,” said the angel.

I could not tear my eyes away from the beautiful light that radiated from his face.

Again, “Welcome.”

“Hello,” I muttered, “where am I?”

He smiled and said “Surely you received and accepted our invitation, or you would not be here. You must know where you are.”
“No, no ..” I said, “please tell me.”

“This is the Kingdom of God. All is beauty, all is holy, all is love. Everything — including YOU (my dirty little man) is here because God wills it to be so.”

“But I’m not worthy,” I sighed.

“Yes. You are right, you’re not,” he replied.

For the first time since my arrival, I was able to peel my eyes away from his radiant face and scan the holy land. I cannot describe for you this place … its beauty … the light.

Then suddenly, my eyes glimpsed someone I knew — a sinner from earth! I said to the angel “Surely you must be mistaken. I am not in heaven — for look there, that man is a sinner! I knew him. I doubt he believed in Jesus Christ … and, as far as I know, he never went to church a day in his life! What is he doing here?”

“He was invited,” said the guide. “He came.”

For a brief horrifying moment, I saw my own reflection in his beautiful face.

As we traveled along, I saw others that I knew — both sinners and saints. I was very confused — and yet, at the same time, quite overwhelmed. I asked my guide many questions. But his answers all had something to do with “they were invited,” “accepted our invitation,” or, “because God wills it to be so.”

Suddenly, I stopped dead in my tracks. There stood Jack Tyndall. I despised him! Oh, how I hated him!

I turned to the light-filled being and said, “I can’t believe he is here! I cannot stand him!”

“But, remember,” said the angel, “remember … once, twice — you prayed for him.”

[He’s right. Although it almost killed me, I did make it a habit to pray for my enemies.]

“Is that why he’s here?!” I whined.

“No — that’s how you got in,” he said.

My head began to swim with confusion. Sure, I’d prayed for my enemies — but, I surely hadn’t prayed that I’d spend eternity with them!

Then, almost like a staged parade, one by one, enemies and scoundrels alike all passed before me. I started yelling at my angelic guide.

“But she’s an adulteress! Everyone knew she slept around all over town. She had no morals.”

“God invited her,” he said. “Everything changed when she accepted our invitation.”

“Him! I can’t believe this, surely I’m in the wrong place. I mean, that guy cared for nothing but money! He had no faith!”

“In you maybe,” replied the angel, “but, in his time he donated much money to the Church and to charitable causes allowing many to live a better life to the glory of God. You may not have recognized it on earth but, here, we look into one’s heart — and his is as big as the moon and filled with the love of God.”

By now, I’d started to cry. I saw nothing before me but people I’d hated. Where were the folks that I loved. Where was my wife? My mother? My father? Grandmother? Where were all of my friends who’d died?

Almost on the brink of hysteria, I turned to the glowing creature and pleaded “But, where are my loved ones?”

“Why should they be here?” he asked.

“For me!” I shouted. “Because I love them! They are my family! No, maybe they weren’t all perfect — but they were good folks. Please, oh please, tell me where are my loved ones?”

He, too, shed a tear. The light subsided a bit, and he showed me his hands, his feet and side. In an instant, I recognized Him.

In that same moment, I became white as snow — no longer feeling dirty and unworthy.

He said to me, “I, too, know love. And it is my love that has brought you, and these people, to this Kingdom. Many whom you love are here also, but you should know that they are no more loved than these whom you hate. For they are all My family. I am the Judge. My Father has given me the reign of His Kingdom. And as you know, I opened my heart for the love of the world — that those who love Me might inherit eternal life.”

He then vanished from my sight …

… and all those who were before me changed.

No.

I changed.

I saw clearly, for the first time, that these were not my enemies. They were … my family.

All things became clear … “God so loved the world …”

“Jesus died for your sins.”

“God’s will …”

“God’s invitation …”

“God.”

I became overwhelmed with joy! There was shouting, dancing, music and, spread before me — the family, and all the hosts of heaven — was a great feast surrounding the throne of Light!

But, someone was missing. Where was the guide who’d brought me to the banquet? — who’d opened my eyes?

Where was the Christ — Who’d taught me so much? Where was He who loved me? Where was He that had died that I might live? He was with me just a moment ago …

Turning to my neighbor, I asked “Where is He? The Bridegroom?”
He nodded in the direction of the gate through which I had entered — and there stood the Lord Jesus, sadly waiting by the entrance to the Kingdom.

“What’s wrong? Why does he stand there so sullen?”

“He’s waiting for Judas” — came the reply.

“He’s waiting for Judas.”

**

God’s wait by the gate may just as well be for me, for you, or anyone who is unrepentant. For God’s Love is immeasurable, as is His forgiveness. Yet unless we turn unto Him, believe and repent, we may miss out on the Great Reward that He has prepared for us. Both Peter and Judas were called to follow Christ. The difference between these two disciples is repentance. It is only through repentance that we are granted, through the Holy Spirit, the freedom to enter into the Joy of the Father’s Kingdom, through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

For as St. Paul’s letter to Timothy tells us “God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for all ….”

Praying in College

I’m a College Student: How Could I Possibly Find Time to Pray

by Albert S. Rossi, Ph.D.

During an Orthodox College Fellowship retreat last spring, a college student said, “If I put Christ first, the suffering will be great and the joy will be greater.”

Isn’t this an accurate statement about college students, time, and personal prayer? The schedule of a college student is so full of obligations and activities; prayer may seem like a “to do” item that is so intangible, it does not even qualify for the “to do” list. Can it be true that prayer is the one activity in my day that affects everything else?

Prayer is listening to God’s promptings in daily life. Prayer is our effort to be open to the presence of God.

Jesus wants to be lovingly kind and boundless in his gifts to us. However, we can block his overtures in many ways, beginning with not having time for him. We simply don’t think about him. We choose to be busy with all our college tasks.

To be blunt, if I’m too busy to pray, then I’m too busy. My task is to draw nearer to God so that I can be my true self, filled with peace and joy. St Isaac the Syrian says that it is impossible to draw nearer to God by any means other than increasing prayer, even while in college.

For the Orthodox, the traditional personal prayer is the Jesus Prayer. The classic form of the Jesus Prayer is, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” The first half is often said as we breathe in and the second half is said as we breathe out. The actual words of our short prayers can vary. We might say the classic version of the Jesus Prayer, or we might say, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” We may say, “Lord Jesus, have mercy.” Or, we might say a Psalm verse, or a Bible quote, or some other prayer. Monks of old said, “Lord, make haste to help me. Lord, make speed to save me,” all day long.

The first half of the Jesus Prayer stresses the Name of Jesus. Jesus is always present, but we are not naturally aware of his presence. We say his Name so that we become aware of his presence and share in his power. He said, “Hitherto you have asked nothing in my Name. Ask and you shall receive that your joy may be full” (John 16:24).

The second half of the Jesus Prayer stresses mercy. Mercy, hesed in Hebrew, means “loving kindness” or “everlasting love.” When we ask for mercy, we ask to be loved. A basic human need is the need to be loved. Often college students look for love in fruitless ways like unrequited romances or virtual connections such as internet pornography or soap operas. When we indulge in these things, we eventually hurt ourselves. This is a joyless, loveless suffering. When we put Christ first, we will suffer, but we will know the joy of being loved. When we ask the Lord for mercy we appropriate the love that is always there for the asking.

Why don’t we avail ourselves of what we need most? Is time the basic problem?

Hidden Martyrdom
We are called to pray “ceaselessly” (1 Thess 5:17). Throughout the college day, a quiet moment in the library, a hectic moment between classes, or while eating lunch we can pause mentally and quietly say the Jesus Prayer. Trying to pray without ceasing is a “hidden martyrdom.” Martyrdom of any sort requires courage, and college students know the satisfaction of trying to live a life of valor.

We can expect invisible, subtle snares, sent from Satan, precisely because we have up scaled our efforts, and are turning to God. In a sense, we rouse the enemy to action. St John Chrysostom says that when we begin to pray we stir the snake (living within us) to action, but that if we persist in prayer we can lay the snake low.

Prayer requires super-human courage, given the atmosphere of the world today. The whole ensemble of natural energies is in opposition.

Trying to pray is the hardest of all human tasks precisely because we are reaching for God, trying to connect with him and become like him. Abba Agathon tells us that if we do not find prayer difficult, perhaps it is because we have not really started to pray.

Lions may not eat us for the sake of the Gospel. Rather, our call to martyrdom takes the form of being attentive to the present moment, relying upon God’s power always, and doing His will. Our call to martyrdom may not be any easier than death by violence.

Out Loud
The voice of God is infinitely delicate, always resistible. How can I ever be quiet enough to hear the voice of God in my daily life? The Fathers tell us that one effective way to concentrate is to speak our prayer in a soft, barely audible voice.

When alone, we might find that praying the Jesus Prayer out loud lowers the distraction level, a perennial enemy of college life. Hearing one’s voice makes it easier to concentrate. Praying in a soft, barely audible voice is a way of engaging the body in the prayer of the spirit.

Transforming the College Years
College years are provided to find our identity. Personal prayer is the door which opens to our true identity, where we find our deepest and most stable self. Prayer keeps us sane. Through prayer we discover deep peace and unshakable joy.

By standing in Christ’s presence for no more than a few moments each day, invoking his Name, we deepen and transform all the remaining moments of the day, render ourselves available to others, effective and creative, in a way that we could not otherwise be.

The Jesus Prayer is recommended in the morning, following our prayer rule, for some period of time, perhaps 10 or 15 minutes. If that is impossible, then try saying the prayer sometime before noon, or in the evening. This might be called “formal” use of the prayer. The second form of the Jesus Prayer is the “free” use of the prayer. This means at any and all other times of the day, or night. This is especially true for the semi-automatic tasks such as driving, doing dishes, exercising, being unable to sleep, or walking to your next class. The Jesus Prayer is notably useful in times of extreme concern or upset.

In prayer, we discover that Jesus stands within us at the door of our hearts. He is always knocking until we open the door of our heart to him. College is a time of renewed valor to find our identity through prayer.

http://www.ocf.net/resources/articles/389.html

OCF “Minutes” for 1-24-08

Blog is up and running ocfgv.wordpress.com

After this I’m going to be posting the minutes on the blog.

Welcome to Greg and Welcome again to Reyna, and of course welcome to everyone.

 

Prayers:

Kendra a student at Cornerstone was recently killed in a car accident

Fr. Gregory’s Dad is in intensive care on a ventilator and they may do a trach on Monday

Greg’s Uncle Nel suffered a stroke recently and is now in physical therapy

Laura Thekla’s Grandma is recovering from surgery. Her Uncle Bruce is undergoing treatment for cancer. And she would also like prayer for direction as for summer plans.

Other: If you would like to be an editor and post on our blog, create a wordpress account and send your username/email to Britney. She’ll set you up.

See you at our next meeting 1/31/08

God bless!

Sanctity of Life Sunday

For parishes in the OCA jurisdiction, at least, tomorrow is Sanctity of Life Sunday.

I, for one, think that’s awesome.

Moreover, it makes me think of what it truly means to be pro-life: in defense of the unborn, the born, and the whole world. It seems that to be pro-life is to be pro-creation; our Father’s imprint is on all that He created, after all.

While I’m on the subject, our GVSU Pro-lifers, Students For Life, kick-off Fire and Ice Week with a candlelight vigil. We should try to make it.

First Post.

So, this is it. Let me know what you think about the layout and stuff. I’m completely open to suggestions.

I picked WordPress because Blogger requires people to make Google accounts. While the process is easy (you don’t even leave blogger.com), I wasn’t sure whether people would have a problem with that or not…

Also, did anyone want to do a “who we are” summary of OCF? I’ll do it if no one wants to. Just let me know.