Homily 35. #

On Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent, A Teaching of Saint John Chrysostom on Prayer

Let all who hear these words take them to heart sincerely. When I say to you, “Pray to God and keep His commandments,” do not say, “I have prayed to Him many times, yet received nothing.” Do not give up, but pray with reverence, that you may receive forgiveness for your sins. Even if you have not yet received grace from God, keep asking, that you may receive it.

Many people come to church, and after a torrent of words, leave the church without knowing what they have said. Their lips move, but their ears hear nothing. And if you do not hear your own prayer, do you expect God to listen to it?

I tell you: if you pray truly, from the heart, few words are needed. But as it is, when you pray or stand in church, you only move your lips and bow your knees, while your thoughts fly elsewhere. The body stands inside, but the soul wanders outside. Your mouth recites the prayer, but your mind is busy calculating deals, purchases, profits, exchanges, loans, land, property, unions, and all kinds of gains.

O brothers, the devil is cunning, deceitful, and malicious. He knows well that during the time of prayer there is great benefit for us. That is why he brings wicked thoughts to our minds, preventing us from praying to God about our sins in that moment.

So when evil thoughts come upon us, let us strive with diligence, with a focused mind and a willing heart, to pour out our prayer before God.

Just as veins hold the body together, so prayer sanctifies and strengthens the soul. Just as a candle gives light in a dark room, so prayer enlightens the soul. Just as the body grows weak when deprived of food, so the soul, lacking the sweetness of prayer, approaches spiritual death and grows feeble. Just as a dark cloud hides the brightness of the sun, so an angry thought destroys the beauty of prayer.

Never, therefore, abandon prayer—it is nourishment for the soul.

Great indeed is the virtue of prayer when it is offered to God with a pure conscience and a heart full of sorrow. Do not stretch out long, elaborate speeches, but pray often, using few words.

Christ Himself commanded the apostles to offer prayers that were frequent and brief. If you extend your speech too long, you will grow weary, and you will give the devil opportunity to come, to ensnare you, and to steal the words from your mind.

But if you pray frequently and in short bursts, you will be able to maintain chastity and avoid harm.

It is fitting, therefore, both at the beginning of a meal and at its end, to give thanks to God.

If you live in this way, you will never fall into drunkenness or fornication—for when you begin and end all things with prayer, it acts like a bridle, restraining you, so that you eat and drink in moderation. A table that is begun with prayer and finished with prayer will never lack, but like a flowing spring, God will abundantly provide all good things.

Many times the devil tempts us during prayer, hindering us from remembering our sins. Often when we lie on our beds, nothing troubles us. But when we rise to pray or to chant, he overwhelms our hearts with countless evil thoughts, trying to lead us away from prayer before we can receive any benefit from it.

But you, beloved, knowing this, imitate the Canaanite woman. She had a daughter possessed by a demon—but we have a soul burdened with sin. What did she say? “Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.” We should say likewise: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, for my soul grievously sinneth.” For sin is a great demon.

Even if you are outside the church, cry out: “Lord, have mercy on me!” Say it not only with your lips, but with your mind—and even in silence, God will hear you. For prayer requires no special place; pray everywhere, only let it be from the depth of your soul.

The prophet Jeremiah was in the mire, yet he quickly called upon God. Daniel prayed to God in the lions’ den and was saved from them. The three youths were in the furnace, praying to God, and were preserved from the flames. The thief was crucified, and though the cross made no outward confession, still his repentance opened paradise to him. Job sat on a dung heap, yet he supplicated God.

So even if you are in your bedroom—pray. If you are working—pray. If you are standing in the market buying and selling—pray. If you are traveling on the road—it is fitting to pray to God.

Listen to what happened in the time of Moses: the sea was before them, and the Egyptians pursued them from behind, and Moses stood in the midst, offering many prayers in his heart. And God said to him: “Wherefore criest thou unto Me?” His lips spoke nothing, but his heart cried out to God.

So you also, when you stand before a raging judge or fall into the hands of soldiers—pray to God. When you pray, your troubled waves will be calmed. If a judge grows angry at you—flee to God, for God is always your helper.

When you are in sorrow and ask a man to help you, he may not listen. Another may lie down to sleep and refuse to speak with you. But with God, this never happens—wherever you go, He will hear you. There is no gatekeeper, no steward, no mediator between you and Him. Simply say, “Lord, have mercy on me!” and God will quickly come and help you.

O word full of gentleness! He does not wait for the prayer to be complete—He answers even while it is still being formed.

Let us then, brothers, strive always to pray to Him with all our hearts, so that we may be made worthy of the heavenly Kingdom.