Philokalia

I am reading The Philokalia this Lent. It "is a collection of texts written between the fourth and fifteenth centuries by spiritual masters of the Orthodox Christian tradition." (Introduction, Vol. 1) These works were compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Makarios of Corinth around the time of the Declaration of Independence. They are a compilation of the best of the ancient and medieval church of the East.

There is a remarkable amount of repetition in the work. Therefore, one finds the core message repeated again and again. This is helpful, especially for people like me (us) who are seduced by innovations and 'the next new thing.'

I am currently in the writings of St. Hesychios the Priest which contains 203 sayings "On Watchfulness and Holiness." What I  have seen, over and over, is the exhortation to do three things.

1. The constant invocation of the name of Jesus. This is the Jesus Prayer. It continually fills the mind with the Lord and prevents evil thoughts and desires from finding a place to rest within our intellect. It is a reminder that deep prayer occurs in connecting with the Lord, not an abundance of flowery words.
2. Be watchful. Constant awareness of one's thoughts allows one to be on guard against any evil inclination. It is reliant on God's help and is the road to purity of heart. An unguarded mind and heart are easily accessed by evil.
3. Grace. We must understand that "sonship is a gift" and contextualize all our disciplines and activities within the framework of grace. Again and again he reminds us of grace.

Reading these words is difficult. They are written for monks. I am no monk. My life is filled with many activities. It is a challenge to understand how such spiritual wisdom is applied to a life where work, family and the mundane duties of daily life press in. Doing the Jesus Prayer all day is not easy when one has so much else to take care of. Yet, even busy people have moments where this is possible. So I can (and do) pray the Jesus Prayer (or the Thank You Prayer) over and over at different times of the day. I can be aware of improper or unhelpful thoughts and invoke the power of Jesus' Name. Maybe not every time, but often enough to make a difference.

The Orthodox Masters live at a level which I have never approached. It is challenging to read the words of such committed Christians. It is also helpful. It reminds me that the task of holiness never ends. It also reminds me that others have been on it and still are. We are not alone on this journey. And we have access to the travel notes of some wonderful people!