I've Been Thinking

The second reading from the lectionary this week includes 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without ceasing.”

The Way of a Pilgrim begins with a contemplation on this verse and the continues for the rest of work to examine how it is that we “pray without ceasing.” I thoroughly recommend this work for anyone interested in the interior life. This work introduced me to the Philokalia, the great compilation of instructions for prayer, especially “the prayer of the heart,” by Orthodox saints. The “prayer of the heart,” also called the Jesus Prayer or Hesychastic prayer, is of course, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy me a sinner.” Occasionally, recitation of this prayer has been my own spiritual practice, neither as much nor as often as the Pilgrim. While  the Pilgrim ultimately learned how to “pray without ceasing,” it’s something to which I have only aspired . It’s something to which all those who have chosen to follow Jesus of Nazareth should aspire. I can, however, attest to the peace that the prayer brings when I have prayed it. God Bless.