Chapter 100
On Prayer and Boredom in the Lord’s Presence
100.2.1 May the mercy of God be with you!
100.3.1 The fact that you all had to stay at home could have been turned to profit for the soul. If you didn’t turn it to profit, you’ve only yourselves to blame that the time passed rather tediously. With the Lord – how can you be bored?! And how can you even desire any distractions?!
100.4.1 And do not pray[1] You’ve gotten angry at the Lord, then... or self-satisfaction has taken hold of you. You’re full! And you don’t want to ask.
100.5.1 When you’re exhausted by evening… start praying on your knees or even sitting, then standing. But you must pray all the same. Give thanks to the Lord for the day, ask for a good night, repent of what was bad.
100.6.1 The parable is clear. The King is the Lord, His Kingdom is the Church of those being saved. The inviters are the apostles, and now all who occupy their place. The evil and the good—these are all kinds of people, both in outward and in inward condition. Whatever they may have been before their calling, this doesn’t prevent them from being called: for, having responded to the calling, they don’t remain as they were before, but are remade by grace in the font of baptism.
100.7.1 That Chernichka became Belichka—this means that the former resolution was not deep, was play-acting... and didn’t enter the heart.[2] She only provoked the enemy—and for this he’ll press down on her all the harder, as on a traitor. But if there was something of God in the former resolve, the enemy will not overcome the Lord. He will still snatch His chosen one from him.
100.8.1 May the Lord bless you!
100.9.1 Your intercessor, Bishop Theophan.
100.10.1