"The Christian who actually lives in Christ never loses his hope … "

"The Christian who actually lives in Christ never loses his hope … "

LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED

Talking with Geronta Pavlos of Sinai (of blessed memory) on the Jesus Prayer:

Q Gregory of Nyssa says that he who wishes to meet God must go with Moses into the dark cloud on Sinai 'where the understanding does not reach.' What then are we asking in the Jesus Prayer?

A When we say ‘Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me,’ we are saying, ‘have mercy on me as You know and wish.’ This is the meaning of prayer.

Q Last time you said that the Christian who actually lives in Christ never loses his hope … Daring to love, this person entrusts his will to God, Who infuses it with His own energies in a synergy of love.

A Without the grace of God, we cannot do anything.

What does Christ say? ‘Do not let your heart be troubled … In my father’s house there are many mansions … I will come again, and will take you to myself, that where I am, you also may be.’ ‘Life’ for us does not mean the physical functioning of our material body, but the life of our spiritual being, being with God in spirit. ‘Life’ means spiritual life.

Q Does the Jesus Prayer empty the mind?

A It doesn’t empty the mind, it fills the mind. It fills it with the presence of God, with His grace. The name of Christ has such power that just by pronouncing it, with its grace it sanctifies us and elevates us.

Q Simply by us pronouncing it, without trying to understand the meaning of the name?

A Yes.

Q One often reads that we are to confine our mind within the words of the prayer.

A That is not an easy thing! In order to reach that point requires much work! Because the mind wanders; you can be saying the prayer and your mind leaves.

Q Is it better therefore to say the prayer with our voice or just in our mind?

A Each one as he can. The mystery of freedom exists here too. God respects the freedom of the person in every way, because He wants us to come near to Him freely. Therefore [one prays] as he can, according to his own strengths and abilities, do you understand? ...

From Q&A Section in FMSM News Blog: http://www.mountsinaimonastery.org/q-a