👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾 About True #Prayer: A Pathway to Divine Mercy
Beloved brethren, faithful followers of the orthodox teachings, let us gather our hearts and minds to contemplate the profound mystery of true prayer—the sacred communion between the soul and its Creator. For what is prayer if not the earnest outpouring of a contrite heart, the humble admission of our unworthiness before the throne of grace?
When we invoke the word "mercy," we are not merely uttering a plea; we are confessing our repentance, expressing deep sorrow for our transgressions, humbling ourselves, and acknowledging the weight of our sins. In this supplication, we simultaneously testify to the infinite glory of God, recognizing that He alone holds the power to forgive and restore. Thus, when we pray, saying, "God, have mercy; Christ," it must emanate from a broken and contrite heart that fully admits its guilt and desperate need for divine compassion.
As the Psalmist David so eloquently declares, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17). Here, we see that the true offering God desires is not burnt offerings or ritualistic observances but a heart humbled by repentance. A heart that recognizes its failings and seeks earnestly to return to the embrace of the Almighty.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His boundless wisdom, provided us with a poignant illustration of the proper posture of prayer through the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. He addressed those "who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others" (Luke 18:9). Two men ascended to the temple to pray: the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee stood confidently, praying within himself, "God, I thank you that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess" (Luke 18:11-12).
This self-righteous man boasted of his deeds, elevating himself above others, his heart void of humility. In stark contrast, the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift his eyes toward heaven. Beating his breast in deep remorse, he pleaded, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" (Luke 18:13). Our Lord affirmed that this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 18:14).
From this divine teaching, we glean that the prayer, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner," is the epitome of penitential prayer. It encapsulates the humility and brokenness of heart that God honors. It is not the eloquence of words but the sincerity of the heart that moves the heart of God.
In our sacred assemblies, we bear witness to the power of such heartfelt prayers. On Sundays and during our annual celebrations, when we commence the day's program after the Holy Mass, testimonies resound from the lips of pilgrims and worshippers alike: "My prayer has been received; my request has been heard; thank God." They exhort us, "May the God who hears them listen to your prayers." Women lift their voices in jubilant praise, while men clap their hands in joyous affirmation.
These testimonies affirm that our prayers are not mere echoes lost in the void nor are our times of devotion exercises in futility. No, dear brethren, they are precious dialogues with the Almighty, who inclines His ear to the cries of His people. As our church teaches, our prayers are heard, and our petitions fulfilled when we approach God with hearts purified from malice and bodies cleansed from abuses.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to rid our hearts of revenge and malice, to cleanse ourselves from the impurities that hinder our communion with God. We are admonished to reconcile with those from whom we are estranged, to forgive those who have wronged us, and to restore what we may have unjustly taken. In doing so, we align ourselves with the heart of God, who desires mercy over sacrifice and reconciliation over ritual.
Continues 👇🏾