Pastoral Letter 3

My Dears in Christ

In this letter I would like to share with you the meaning of Jesus’ Prayer

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."

Jesus' prayer promoted to the rank of the liturgical prayers with distinction.

Where Jesus’ prayer came from the New Testament

 The tax collector has provided an acceptable and effective prayer,

((Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.)), Jesus said: << This man went home justified before God>>.

In (Luke 18:38) the blind man called Jesus

(Jesus, Son of David, have a mercy on me),

The immediate result to this Prayer, was the blind man got a direct effect, and he became healthy; << Immediately he received his sight >>

And that applied to St. Paul when he said:

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17). that completely applied to Jesus's Prayer

 Jesus's Prayer consists from three phrases.

 The first one is referring to the faith, awareness and acknowledging the divine nature of Christ.

The second one is: Ask for clemency, As the mercy of God is the light of God, life with God and according to God's will, And the living under protection of God from evil and wicked.

 The third one is the recognition of our sinfulness.

Where the request of "have mercy”.  is considered as a helmet of salvation.

My Dears

The great John the Chrysostom also says: ‘I implore you, brethren, never to break or despise the rule of this prayer.’ And a little further: ‘A monk when he eats, drinks, sits, officiates, travels or does an other thing just continually cry: “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me!” so that the name of the Lord Jesus, descending into the depths of the heart, should subdue the serpent ruling over the inner pastures and bring life and salvation to the soul. He should always live with the name of the Lord Jesus, so that the heart absorbs the Lord and the Lord the heart, and the two become one.’ And again: ‘Do not estrange your heart from God, but abide in Him and always guard your heart by remembering our Lord Jesus Christ, until the name of the Lord becomes rooted in the heart and it ceases to think of anything else. May Christ be glorified in you.

And Saint Paul said in his Epistles: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom 10:9-10). And again: “No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 12:3).

Therefore, I recommended you to pray Jesus’s prayer day-night in order to be in union with Jesus all time of your life; even you are in your job, study and so on.

Asking our Lord Jesus Christ for dwelt in your soul and body and filling your life.

Amen.

Editor: Διάκονος. Rev.Deacon. Spyridon (Kamil Tannous)
Orthodox Patristic Church
www.christ-prayer.org