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Friday, March 23, 2012

Philokalia 2

I am actually lifting a section from the Philokali. It is on page 189 of Volume 1 (Faber and Faber) and expresses the focus on grace even as it exhorts our efforts:

We will travel down the road of repentance correctly if, as we begin to give attention to the intellect, we combine humility with watchfulness, and prayer with power to rebut evil thoughts. In this way we will adorn the chamber of our heart with the holy and venerable name of Jesus Christ...
But if we trust only in our own watchfulness and attentiveness, we shall quickly be pushed aside by our enemies ... lacking the powerful sword of the name of Jesus.

Often times, spiritual disciplines can become foolish self-dependence. We get focused on "me" and what I am doing. We think more highly of ourselves than we should. "I am strong" is true, but it is also true that "I am not that strong." There are limits to what any of us can accomplish on our own. Positive attitudes and self confidence have their limits.

In the spiritual realm there are powers at work which we cannot handle. [One reason why I shudder to hear people self-identify as 'spiritual, not religious'] The spiritual realm is not friendly or good. It contains angels and demons, God and Satan, light and darkness. The Master would have us understand this. He (Jesus) is the power source. His name is the name above all others. Enterring into this world on our own is foolhardy and will end in destruction.

Our activity, therefore, is best when we are doing all in Jesus' name. Repetition of the Name is a source of blessing. It frees the ego from "coming up with a good sounuding prayer" and it allows one to humbly trust the Lord and His power to save. Replacing a bad thought or image with the prayer of Jesus' Name was sound advice fifteen hundred years ago and it is still sound advice today. I hope you are inspired to take up this practice, at least on occassion.

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