OCTOBER 28, 2018
7:30 AM, 9:00 AM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASSES
“The Jesus Prayer” or the “Prayer of the Heart” is an eastern Church prayer form consisting of repetitions of the prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner” oftentimes synchronized with ones breathing.
The 19th century book “The Way of a Pilgrim” tells the tale of a wandering pilgrim who travels through southern and central Ukraine, Russia, and Siberia.
The pilgrim’s journey begins when he is struck by the words of St. Paul in First Thessalonians to “pray without ceasing.” He visits monasteries and churches hoping to find someone who will explain to him … how … to pray without ceasing – but without much success.
He finally meets a wizened old religious, who teaches him the Jesus Prayer.
The remainder of the book details the progression of spiritual development of the author – amidst his own struggles – and how his practice of the Jesus prayer affects him … and those around him.
Today is the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
We hear in the Psalm Response:
The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.Do we recognize the great things God has done for us? Are we filled with joy?
The first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah speaks of the same things that the verses of the Psalm speak of … restoration of the people of God … and the joy that they have experienced in response to that restoration.
In a sense, Israel has experienced a loss – and God has restored what they have lost.
The Letter to the Hebrews speaks of Christ’s priesthood – and His “offer[ing of] gifts and sacrifices for sin” in order to restore us – the members of His Body – to what our spiritual inheritance.
And in the Gospel, we hear the story of Blind Bartimaeus.
He cries out:
Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.And despite the crowd telling him to stop,
he kept calling out all the more.As Bartimaeus continues calling out, Jesus calls him.
He gets up. Throws aside his cloak, and goes to Jesus.
In a short exchange, Jesus asks him what he wants, he responds in the simplest of petitions, and immediately he received what he asked for, and followed Jesus on the way.
The prayer of Bartimaeus is nothing more than the prayer of the heart. He was single-minded in what he wanted. He threw aside the only thing he had to come when Christ called him, and in faith made his request, and received.
As we continue with our prayer in this Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; and as we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ … let us pray from our heart … in simplicity … and focused on Christ alone – who can save us … let us recognize the Great High Priest here before us, and crying out to Him:
Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinnerMay we recognize the great things God has done for us, and let us receive … and be filled with joy.
