Prayer presupposes faith. People who don’t pray are without help, uncertain, blind and alone.
They’re
earthbound, not knowing how to fly aloft, to burn bright in the sky, to
enjoy the necessary celestial support. They’re magnetized, bound, firmly
attached to corruptible, earthly things. It’s not easy for them to
break away. They attempt to lay up treasure on earth. They’re constantly
seeking pleasure to bring them joy, though, in fact, it brings them
more pain. It’s sad and lamentable to seek joy in the mire.
Ascent to heaven begins with contrition,
with real repentance, with remorse. It’s worth remembering that we
weren’t made to return to dust. The life of the passions doesn’t in fact
bring joy and satisfaction. Attaching yourself too firmly to the things
of this world is a serious mistake and brings its own cost in terms of
bitter consequences. It’s not unfeasible to advance beyond the visible.
Anyone can manage it. They need only to want to, to have a real desire.
At first we’re hesitant, shy, afraid and we don’t want to risk much. We
may find it to be something we can’t grasp, strange, unnatural,
impossible and, in any case, not for us. We think we’re playing an
offensive and impious game and that we’re too sinful for any of that.
But prayer isn’t only for saints.
If only you pray modestly and humbly,
your heart becomes sweeter, enlightened, strengthened and restful. It
feels it’s worth the effort to pray. It feels elation, exultation,
security, fortification and comfort. It realizes that prayer’s a great
need of the soul, a natural motion, a divine function. It becomes a good
deed rather than a formal habit. A daily delight and gift. Just as the
body wants its daily food, to maintain itself, so does our immortal
soul.
It’s not possible to love God and not be
linked to Him, to talk with Him and to pray. We should always think on
Him and invoke Him. Remembrance of God is itself a prayer. You
commemorate the Beloved and are glad. Invocation of God is a source of
great joy, peace and blessing. Without prayer, the soul is gasping, weak
and sickly. Prayer confers spiritual health, balance, discernment,
enlightenment and blessedness. Prayer arms us against sin. People who
pray have entered into conversation with God and don’t concern
themselves with vain matters. They learn humility, sobriety, simplicity
and love. They’re God’s beloved children. Prayer’s a great gift from
God to us.
Source-Pemptousia.com
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