Bishop Basil (Rodzianko).
The Jesus Prayer is for moments
of repentance. But in between these moments one is in the atmosphere
of the Spirit, wordless and motionless - in the silence of deep
hesychia which penetrates everything, including daily work. It
is constant, never hindering earthly activities of any kind, but
rather sanctifying them. We live in this atmosphere like fish
in water. Only sin can interrupt this atmosphere and every sin
is possible only outside of it. When this happens, the Jesus Prayer
is the ladder back.
This is the answer to the question of how
it is possible to pray constantly. People say they cannot repeat
the Jesus Prayer without ceasing. But there are two ways to cease
that prayer - either up or down; in the silent glory of the Holy
Spirit or in sin. This is the "unseen warfare." "The Kingdom of
Heaven is acquired by force."
|