DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Learning
Prayer: St. Mark 1:35-44, especially vs. 35: “Now
in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and
departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” Herein, the Lord Jesus
Christ reveals Himself as the consummate Man of Prayer. Think of this: not only did He pray for
us during His three year ministry, but even now, as the Apostle teaches, He
“lives to make intercession” for us (Heb. 7:25). Think of it! Christ Jesus our Lord as God, hears our
prayers and offers them to the Father.
As a fellow Man, He Himself prayed, but more wonderfully, He continues
praying now and forever.
So what is there about prayer that He does not know and understand
fully? To what greater Teacher may
we turn for instruction in prayer?
By all means, join Metropolitan Philaret in praying to the Lord: “Direct
our wills, teach us to pray, pray Thou Thyself in us.”[1] After all, being baptized into Christ,
we “have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). Thus, we have assurance that He is
always ready within our spirits to pray with us and for us. In this passage, the Lord Jesus teaches
us three aspects of prayer: 1) maintaining an intimate relationship with
Himself, 2) fighting off demonic interference, and 3) cleansing our hearts to
be pure vessels of prayer.
Prayer is struggle, a reality that Simon Peter and many have
encountered. We must find Christ
(Mk. 1:36)! Many fail to understand
what is driving them to search for truth, light, happiness, love, and meaning,
but Peter understood: “Everyone is looking for You” (Mk.
1:37). And the Lord intends that we
should seek Him, “grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from
each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts
17:27,28).
Beloved, how blessed we are among all men if we have found Him, for in
Him is the true Faith! Like
Christ’s first Disciples, we too may discover that we have become
separated from Him. Then we must resume
searching for Him, to be united again with Him (Mk. 1:36,37). Often, we lose the Lord by falling
asleep spiritually (Mk. 14:37). But
the Lord knows our weaknesses, and that is exactly why He told Peter and the
others: “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the
flesh is weak” (Mk. 14:38).
After the disciples came to the Lord, He led them “throughout all
Against such let us cry out with St. John of Kronstadt: “O my
strength, Jesus, Son of God! O
Light of my mind! The peace, the
joy of my heart - glory to Thee!
Glory to Thee, Deliverer from my invisible enemies, that fight against
my mind and my heart, slaying me in the very source of my life, in my most
sensitive part!”[2] And Christ our God casts them out (vs.
39)!
Since the Lord Jesus indwells us, what else stays within us that enables
the demons to distract and tempt us so readily? Let us confess the sinfulness of our own
hearts and minds - our fallen flesh.
We are diseased, like the leper in this reading, corrupted throughout.
O Master, Who art merciful, grant unto us who pray, Thy rich mercies and compassions.[4]