Chapter 43
On Unceasing Prayer and the Dedication of Works to God
43.2.1 The mercy of God be with you!
43.3.1 I owe you an apology—I’ve been slow to answer your letter. But now the time has come to write, and recently, while writing to N., N. asked me to send you a prostration and to tell you that next time (we send to the city in a week) I will write.[1] And then your package arrived. I give thanks. I see, I see that you want to bribe my slothfulness. Well no, my faithful one is not like that.[2] She cannot be bribed, though you try. N. N. You wrote that things were weighing heavily on you, even to the point of exhaustion. But then you let me know that things have become easier for you and you’re at peace. I’m very glad. May the Lord help you not to step out of this comforting atmosphere.[3] You’re all complaining about yourselves.[4] This is entirely in the order of things—who will boast? Who doesn’t see themselves? Glory to God that you see this and are aware of yourself in this way.
43.4.1 You complain about the scarcity of prayer. But you can pray without standing in prayer. Every lifting of the intellect and heart to God is true prayer. If you’re doing this between your other tasks, then pray as you go. I recall that in Basil the Great, the question of how the apostles could pray unceasingly is resolved this way: they kept God in mind through all their work and lived in unceasing devotion to God. This disposition of the spirit was their unceasing prayer. There’s your example. I think I’ve already written to you that from people of action—and you belong to that sort—we cannot demand the same as we do from those who sit idle. Their chief concern should be to avoid improper feelings in their work and to strive in every way to dedicate all their deeds to God. This dedication will turn your deeds into prayer. It is written that the blood of Abel cries out to God. So too the deeds we dedicate to God cry out to Him. One elder, when someone brought him something to eat, said: how badly this smells... though what had been brought was actually very good. When they asked him: how so? He explained that it had been sent with bad feelings and from a bad source. So every deed is anointed with the feelings with which it is performed. And those who have purified feelings perceive it. So it follows that just as a sweet fragrance comes from good flowers, so from deeds done with good intention comes its own fragrance, and it rises up like incense from a censer. Here is yet another prayer.
43.5.1 Afflictions do not leave you. Is God arranging this for nothing? Why? Because He loves you... He loves and prunes you, so that you may be pure and shine like a diamond in the sun. And He smooths the path into the Kingdom for you, for the chariot by which one reaches there is patience. But how can you endure when there are no afflictions? So they are sent.
43.6.1 May the Lord bless you with every blessing.
43.7.1 Every comfort to you and health to your spouse.
43.8.1 Be saved!
43.9.1 Your intercessor, Bishop Theophan.
43.10.1